Belgian court clears Mehul Choksi’s extradition, says arrest on India's request lawful

Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s long run from Indian law may finally be nearing its end as a court in Antwerp on Friday cleared his extradition, holding that his arrest by the Belgian authorities on New Delhi’s request was lawful and backed by sufficient evidence.

The order has come as a strong validation for India’s case seeking his extradition, with Choksi having the option of appealing against the decision in a superior court in Belgium, said officials. Choksi is accused of masterminding the Rs 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, which is one of the country’s biggest banking scams, in collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi.

The Antwerp court, after hearing detailed submissions from both sides, accepted India’s arguments that the extradition request met all legal conditions under the Belgian law.

Choksi, who took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 and fled India a year later, was detained in Belgium earlier this year after his movements were flagged through international coordination channels.

Investigators from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), working in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, had submitted extensive documentation to support the extradition request.

Government sources described the Antwerp court’s decision as a “significant legal victory” for India’s pursuit of economic offenders, signalling renewed momentum in efforts to bring back those who fled the country to evade prosecution.