Mehul Choksi’s Escape Nears End? Belgium Court Clears Path for India Return
The Antwerp Court of Appeal has formally advised the Belgian government to approve Mehul Choksi's extradition on six of seven charges filed by India.
The Mehul Choksi extradition case centres on one of India's largest banking frauds, valued at approximately Rs 13,000 crore. The Belgian Ministry of Interior now holds the final say.
Who Is Mehul Choksi?
Mehul Choksi, 65, former promoter of Gitanjali Gems and uncle of Nirav Modi, fled India in January 2018 before the Punjab National Bank fraud surfaced, later gaining citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda and moving to Belgium for treatment.
What Is He Accused Of?
According to Central Bureau of Investigation charge sheets, Choksi's firms bribed officials to obtain fraudulent LoUs and FLCs from Punjab National Bank’s Brady House branch, with Business Standard reporting 165 LoUs and 58 FLCs issued in 2017 alone and kept off the books via the SWIFT system.
How Did the Belgian Extradition Case Begin?
India's CBI tracked Choksi to Belgium in July 2024 and filed a formal extradition request on August 27, 2024.
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Antwerp police arrested him on April 11, 2025. Multiple bail applications have since been rejected by Belgian courts over flight risk concerns.
What Has the Antwerp Court of Appeal Ruled?
On April 3, 2026, the court advised the approval of Choksi's extradition on six charges including criminal conspiracy, forgery, and embezzlement.
Tampering with evidence was excluded as it has no equivalent under Belgian law, reported Press Trust of India (PTI).
What Did Choksi's Defence Argue?
His legal team claimed he faces torture, was kidnapped from Antigua in 2021, and would not receive a fair trial.
Counsel Vijay Aggarwal reportedly told ANI the case was politically motivated. The court found none of these claims supported by direct evidence.
What Assurances Has India Given Belgium?
India assured Belgian authorities that Choksi would be held in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail, with medical care and private facilities, stated PTI.
The Belgian court accepted these as consistent with European human rights standards.
What Happens Next in the Extradition Case?
The court’s advice is non-binding, with Hindustan Times reporting Belgium’s Interior Ministry may take at least a month to decide; if approved, Choksi returns to India for trial, while nephew Nirav Modi remains jailed in London contesting extradition from the United Kingdom.
(With inputs from yMedia)