Editor’s Note
A Belgian court has approved the extradition of Mehul Choksi to India, a key figure in the massive Punjab National Bank fraud case. This ruling marks a significant step in the long-running effort to bring him to trial.
A court in Antwerp has ordered the extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi to India. The court has validated his arrest by Belgian authorities at India’s request.
Mehul Choksi, a key accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and a fugitive diamond trader, has had his extradition to India approved by a Belgian court. The Antwerp court, stating that Choksi’s arrest was valid, said the conditions for extradition are met. This decision is a significant step in India’s prolonged diplomatic battle, although Choksi can appeal.
Mehul Choksi faces charges of fraud, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering at PNB between 2011 and 2018. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Choksi embezzled approximately 13,000 crore rupees from the bank by fraudulently issuing Letters of Undertaking (LoUs). The scam was uncovered in 2018, after which Choksi fled India in January 2018. He acquired citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in November 2017 and claimed to have renounced Indian citizenship in December 2018, a claim not recognized by India. Choksi is being prosecuted under IPC sections 120B (conspiracy), 420 (fraud), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 201 (destruction of evidence), and sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Choksi was arrested by Antwerp police on April 11, 2025, at India’s request. He has been in a Belgian jail since then. Several of his bail petitions have been rejected on grounds of flight risk. The court stated there is a real danger of Choksi absconding. During the hearings, India cited the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), to which Belgium is also a signatory. The CBI visited Belgium three times to present evidence and engaged a European law firm for assistance. The court, finding the condition of ‘dual criminality’ satisfied, stated that the offenses are punishable under Belgian law as well.
India has promised that after extradition, Choksi will be held in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, which meets European human rights standards. It will provide clean water, food, newspapers, TV, and medical facilities, with neither solitary confinement nor overcrowding. Delivering the verdict, the court said his arrest was valid. However, Choksi can appeal to a higher court, which could delay the extradition. Officials described this as a crucial first step in the extradition process.
