A court in Antwerp has approved the extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi to India, nearly five months after his arrest in Belgium in connection with the ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank loan fraud case.
Choksi, 64, has 15 days to appeal the ruling before Belgium’s Supreme Court, according to _The Indian Express_. The decision follows assurances by the Indian government outlining the detention conditions Choksi would face if extradited, including placement in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail.
The Indian authorities accuse Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi of defrauding PNB between 2014 and 2017 by using fraudulent Letters of Undertaking to secure overseas credit. The alleged scam left the bank with losses exceeding ₹13,500 crore, with Choksi’s share estimated at ₹6,000 crore.
After fleeing India in 2018, Choksi obtained citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda under its investment program before relocating to Belgium in 2024, reportedly for medical treatment. India’s extradition treaty with Belgium, dating back to 1901, allows the transfer of fugitives charged with crimes punishable in both jurisdictions.
Choksi’s legal team has argued that he would not receive due process in India, citing health concerns and prison conditions.