Belgium Court Clears Mehul Choksi’s Extradition, Validates Arrest

On Friday, the Belgian court approved the extradition of fugitive Mehul Choksi to India over his alleged involvement in the Rs 13000 crore PNB fraud. 

The owner of Gitanjali Group, a retail jewellery firm with 4000 stores in India, is not the sole accused in the bank fraud case. 

His nephew, Nirav Modi, also has a role in this conspiracy. On April 11, Antwerp police arrested this 66-year-old Indian businessman following an extradition request by the CBI. 

The Antwerp court heard the arguments from both Belgian prosecutors, representing India,  and the accused Mehul Choksi. Later, it upheld India's extradition request and his arrest as valid.

How long has Mehul Choksi been residing in Belgium?

Indian businessman Mehul Choksi has been evading Indian authorities ever since he committed a bank fraud of Rs 13000 crore with his nephew Nirav Modi. 

He had been residing in Belgium since 2023. In 2024, CBI discovered Choksi's whereabouts in Belgium and initiated an extradition request to the European nation. 

The extradition treaty between the two countries has been effective since 2020. 

Brief About PNB Fraud

Mehul Choksi was found guilty of the 2018 bank fraud, which came to light in February 2018. 

He colluded with PNB officials to get Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit, bypassing the bank's prescribed procedures.

Choksi used these to raise credit from overseas banks, causing a loss of Rs 6,097.63 crore to the bank. 

This fraud was part of the Rs 13,850 crore scam, which also included his nephew, Nirav Modi, and remains one of the biggest banking frauds reported in India to date. 

Charges filed against Mehul Choksi

The charges filed against the Indian businessman Mehul Choksi include criminal conspiracy, document forgery, and manipulation under the IPC (Indian Penal Code). His offences also make him a criminal under Belgian law.

During the extradition proceedings, it came out that Choksi still holds Indian citizenship, whereas his Antiguian nationality remains disputed.

Following his extradition to India, the Indian government has confirmed that Choksi will be housed in Barrack No. 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, complying with European CPT.