File picture of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Belgian authorities confirmed on Monday (April 14, 2025) that they have Mehul Choksi, the fugitive diamond businessman, in custody after he was arrested over the weekend. He is wanted, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, in a case by Punjab National Bank alleging loan frauds worth more than ₹13,578 crore. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been pursuing his extradition since 2018 when he left the country.
Mr. Choksi is an Antiguan citizen at present, and had moved to Belgium a few years ago, reportedly for cancer treatment. He was arrested near his home in Antwerp. As per reports, he secured a Belgian residency permit in November 2023, as his wife is a Belgian citizen. In a petition filed with a special court in Mumbai in February this year, Mr. Choksi had provided medical documents that said he was suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (blood cancer) and was unable to travel.
“[Mr. Choksi] is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. Access to his legal counsel has been assured,” the Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice or Justice department told The Hindu in a written statement. “We can confirm that the Indian authorities have introduced an extradition request for Mr. Choksi,” it added.
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Mr. Choksi’s case is due to come up in Belgian courts next week. This is not the first time he is facing an extradition trial. In 2021, a court in Dominica had dismissed a CBI petition for his extradition after he alleged that he had been kidnapped and beaten up by “henchmen” working for the Indian government. International agency Interpol had subsequently withdrawn its Red Notice for Mr. Choksi after his lawyers had claimed human rights violations and “political targeting” by the Modi government.
“It goes without saying that we will fight that extradition, we have serious questions about the course of events,” Mr. Choksi’s Belgian lawyer Simon Bekaert told the newspaper De Standaard, adding that he intended to argue that Mr. Choksi would not receive a “fair trial” in India.
Mr. Choksi is currently appealing a decision by the Antiguan government to revoke his citizenship. His nephew Mr. Nirav has also been arrested in the UK on India’s request and has been in prison since 2019 as he appeals against his extradition to India.
The Ministry of External Affairs did not comment on the latest development, but Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the arrest of Mr. Choksi was a victory of the government’s diplomacy. “It is a matter of pride for India,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event to commemorate the 135th birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar.
India has intensified ties with Belgium in the past few years, and both countries signed an extradition treaty in March 2020. Last month, Belgian Princess Astrid led a high-powered economic delegation accompanied by senior Ministers to India, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Belgian King Philippe over the phone.
Also Read | Belgium closely following Mehul Choksi case, says government spokesperson
Multiple cases registered
Mr. Choksi and his nephew Mr. Nirav have been accused of cheating the Punjab National Bank to the tune of ₹13,578 crore through use of fraudulent Letters of Understanding and other credit facilities. The CBI has registered multiple cases against them and their companies. Based on those cases, the Enforcement Directorate is also conducting a money-laundering probe and has attached assets in India and overseas, including in the United States, United Arab Emirates, and Japan.
The accused persons fled the country along with their family members in January 2018, days before the CBI registered its first case to probe the alleged scam. As it turned out later, Mr. Choksi had secured Antiguan citizenship in November 2017. India moved a request for his extradition in August 2018. On the plea of probe agencies, Interpol also issued a Red Notice against him December that year.
Mr. Choksi’s arrest in Dominica in May 2021 triggered a controversy after he alleged that he was abducted from Antigua. He was granted bail by a Dominican court on medical grounds, after which he returned to Antigua. In March 2023, taking note of his application, Interpol withdrew the Red Notice.
On April 12, Mr. Choksi was arrested by the Belgium enforcement agency, months after India moved a request seeking his extradition to face trial in a court here for the alleged offences. According to the CBI, a Red Notice is not a mandatory prerequisite for extradition of a person wanted for any offence. “The extradition request made by India is under active consideration before authorities in Antigua and Barbuda and remains fully not impacted by Red Notice related communications with the Interpol,” it had earlier said.
(Inputs from Sandeep Phukan)
Published – April 14, 2025 09:38 pm IST
