Editor’s Note
A Belgian court has approved the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi to India, calling the Indian agencies’ demand “legitimate.” This marks a key legal step in the long-running case.
A major development has emerged from a Belgian court against Mehul Choksi, one of India’s most high-profile economic fugitives. The Antwerp Court has approved Choksi’s extradition to India. The court clearly stated that the demand from Indian agencies is legitimate and the arrest made by Belgian police was legally correct. This decision marks a significant legal victory for Indian agencies, the CBI and the ED.
However, Choksi’s lawyers have stated in court that they will appeal this decision in a higher court. Therefore, he will not be sent to India immediately. Nevertheless, this ruling is considered a crucial milestone for India and a decisive turn in the extradition process.
Antwerp police arrested Choksi on April 11, 2025. He has been in jail for the past four months, and all his bail petitions have been rejected by Belgian courts. The court stated that the risk of Choksi fleeing is real, hence the arrest is justified.
India presented a strong case against Choksi, naming him as the main accused in the ₹13,850 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud. The CBI informed the court that Choksi, in collusion with PNB officials, issued fake Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) to obtain loans from foreign banks without security and transferred the money to shell companies for money laundering.
India has charged him with fraud, conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and corruption. Sections 120B, 201, 409, 420, 477A of the IPC and Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act have been invoked against him. The court acknowledged that these crimes are also punishable under Belgian law, thus fulfilling the dual criminality requirement.
India told the court that Mehul Choksi ran a racket of selling fake diamonds as real through his companies. He took loans from foreign banks on fake guarantees and transferred the money abroad through money laundering. Additionally, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has banned Choksi from the capital market for 10 years due to irregularities in the stock market.
India requested extradition citing the UNTOC (Transnational Organized Crime Convention) and UNCAC (Anti-Corruption Convention). The CBI team visited Belgium three times, handed over all evidence to the authorities there, and completed the legal process with the help of a European law firm.
India assured the court that after extradition, Choksi will be kept in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail. He will be provided facilities according to the standards of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), including clean water, food, TV, newspapers, and a private doctor. India also stated that Choksi will not be kept in solitary confinement.
Choksi claimed that he renounced Indian citizenship in 2018 and acquired Antiguan citizenship in 2017. However, India stated that his Indian passport was not cancelled and he remains an Indian citizen.
The agency had traced Choksi’s location to Belgium in July 2024, and the formal extradition request was sent at the same time.