Big win for India: Belgian court approves Mehul Choksi’s extradition in PNB scam case

In a major breakthrough for Indian authorities, a Belgian court in Antwerp has approved the extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi to India, ruling that his arrest by Belgian police in April 2025 was valid. The decision marks a crucial first step in bringing back one of the key accused in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

The court, however, allowed Choksi the option to appeal before a higher court, delaying his immediate return to India. Choksi has been lodged in a Belgian prison since his arrest on April 11, 2025, after multiple bail pleas were rejected over flight risk concerns.

Court Upholds Charges and Dual Criminality

During the proceedings, the Belgian prosecution, representing India, and Choksi’s lawyers presented detailed arguments. The court ruled that the offences Choksi faces in India including criminal conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, destruction of evidence, and corruption, are also punishable under Belgian law, meeting the dual criminality requirement for extradition.

India has charged Choksi under several sections of the Indian Penal Code Indian Penal Code — 120B (criminal conspiracy), 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information), 409 (Criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), and 477A (falsifying documents and under Sections 7 (bribery) and 13 (criminal misconduct) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

India’s Assurances and Next Steps

India assured Belgium that Choksi would be housed under humane conditions in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, with access to food, water, newspapers, and medical care. The CBI, citing international conventions like UNCAC and UNTOC, emphasized India’s commitment to fair trial standards.

Choksi, who fled India in 2018 and later claimed Antiguian citizenship, continues to be treated as an Indian national. The Antwerp court’s ruling brings India one step closer to extraditing the fugitive billionaire and delivering long-awaited justice in the massive PNB scam.

Choksi is wanted in India in connection with the 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, one of the country’s largest banking scams.