Editor’s Note
An Antwerp court has upheld the validity of Mehul Choksi’s arrest by Belgian authorities on India’s request. The fugitive businessman retains the right to appeal the decision to Belgium’s Supreme Court within 15 days.
A court in Antwerp ruled that the arrest of Choksi by Belgian police, at India’s request, was valid. Choksi has the right to appeal this order to Belgium’s Supreme Court within the next 15 days.
A Belgian court on Friday approved the extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi to India, according to sources. The Antwerp court heard arguments from both sides – Belgian prosecutors representing India and Choksi’s legal team. Choksi was arrested by Antwerp police on April 11 and has been in jail for the past four months. Belgian courts have rejected several of his bail petitions.
India has charged the 66-year-old Choksi with fraud, conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and corruption under sections 120B, 201, 409, 420, and 477A of the Indian Penal Code, as well as sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. These offenses are also punishable under Belgian law. India cited international conventions such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption in support of its case.
India has assured Belgian authorities that after extradition, Choksi will be held in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, where he will be provided facilities in line with European standards, including clean water, food, newspapers, television, and access to a private doctor. It was also assured that he would not be held in solitary confinement.
India maintains that Choksi is still an Indian citizen and disputes his claim to Antiguan citizenship. Choksi told the court that he renounced Indian citizenship on December 14, 2018, and acquired Antiguan citizenship on November 16, 2017.
India presented evidence of a ₹13,000 crore bank fraud that occurred between 2018 and 2022. The court acknowledged that there was a real risk of Choksi fleeing, justifying his arrest. The CBI located Choksi in Belgium in July 2024 and formally requested his extradition.