Editor’s Note
A Belgian court has cleared the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi to India, marking a significant development in the ₹13,000 crore PNB fraud case. While the legal path is now open, the timeline for his actual return remains uncertain.
Recently, a court in Belgium has ordered the extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi to India. The path to bring Mehul Choksi back to India has been cleared. The court’s order is a major blow to the fugitive businessman. Choksi is accused in the ₹13,000 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, in collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi. But the question remains: when exactly will fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi return to India?
The 65-year-old Choksi was arrested by Antwerp police on April 11 based on an extradition request sent by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and he has been in jail there for over four months. His repeated attempts to secure bail from various Belgian courts have failed.
Meanwhile, his arrest by Belgian authorities has also been deemed valid. According to sources, an official stated that Choksi still has the option to appeal against this decision in the High Court. For the extradition proceedings in Belgian courts, the CBI had sent its team at least three times and also engaged the services of a private European law firm. India had presented evidence of fraud and misappropriation of funds by Choksi and his repeated attempts to evade legal process.
According to sources, Mehul Choksi still has the option to appeal against the court’s decision.
The government had sought his extradition under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 201 (destruction of evidence), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 477A (falsification of accounts) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and sections 7 and 13 (bribery) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Indian government had assured Belgium that PNB scam accused Mehul Choksi would be kept in humane conditions at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail if extradited. Mehul Choksi is accused in the ₹13,000 crore bank fraud case.