Antwerp, Belgium – In a significant development for India's efforts to bring fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi to justice, a court in Antwerp, Belgium, has cleared the way for his extradition to India. The court ruled on Friday, October 17, 2025, that Choksi's arrest by Belgian authorities, based on India's extradition request, was valid.
This ruling marks a crucial first legal step in India's attempt to extradite Choksi, who is wanted in connection with the 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud. However, Choksi retains the option to appeal the decision in a higher court within Belgium, meaning his immediate return to India is not guaranteed.
Mehul Choksi, 65, was taken into custody by Antwerp police on April 11, 2025, following an extradition request filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He has remained in prison since then, with multiple attempts to secure bail being rejected by Belgian courts. Choksi had relocated to Belgium in 2023 after previously fleeing to Antigua and Barbuda, where he had obtained citizenship.
The Indian government has sought Choksi's extradition under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and falsification of accounts. Additionally, sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, pertaining to bribery, have been invoked. These offenses also constitute crimes under Belgian law, satisfying the dual criminality clause required by the extradition treaty. To further bolster its case, India has invoked the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
During the extradition proceedings, the CBI dispatched teams to Belgium on multiple occasions and engaged a European law firm to present evidence of Choksi's alleged involvement in fraud, diversion of funds, and attempts to evade the legal process. Indian officials, along with Belgian prosecutors, argued that Choksi is a flight risk and should remain in custody.
To address concerns about Choksi's detention conditions if extradited, the Indian government has assured Belgium that he would be held in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail. India has stated that the cell meets the standards set by the European Committee for Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), measuring approximately 20 feet by 15 feet and including a separate toilet and washroom, ventilators, and a grilled main door for sufficient air circulation.
Mehul Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi, are accused of orchestrating a massive fraud against Punjab National Bank, involving fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs) worth over Rs 13,000 crore. These LoUs, essentially guarantees issued to foreign lenders without proper authorization, allowed them to obtain loans from overseas banks. When the companies failed to repay these loans, PNB was allegedly forced to pay over Rs 6,300 crore, including interest, to the foreign banks.
