Fugitive Jeweller Choksi Faces Extradition After Belgium Court Ruling

In a significant victory for Indian authorities, a court in Antwerp, Belgium, on October 17, 2025, approved the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, wanted in connection with a massive Rs 13,000 crore fraud at Punjab National Bank (PNB). The court upheld the validity of Choksi’s arrest by Belgian authorities in April 2025, following India’s extradition request, reinforcing India’s pursuit of justice in one of the country’s largest financial scams. However, Choksi, 66, retains the option to appeal the decision in a higher Belgian court, potentially prolonging the legal battle.

Indian officials hailed the ruling as a “strong validation” of their case against Choksi, who is accused of orchestrating the PNB scam alongside his nephew, Nirav Modi. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, presented compelling evidence to Belgian prosecutors, emphasizing Choksi’s role in the fraud and his status as a flight risk. “The court has termed his arrest valid. The first legal step in getting him extradited is now clear,” a senior Indian official stated, highlighting the significance of the decision.

Choksi was apprehended in Belgium on April 11, 2025, after fleeing to Antigua and Barbuda, where he had obtained citizenship. His multiple bail applications in Belgium have been consistently rejected, with prosecutors arguing that his history of evading authorities makes him a continued flight risk. The Antwerp court’s decision followed hearings in mid-September, where Belgian prosecutors, supported by Indian officials, detailed Choksi’s alleged crimes, including the issuance of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs) at PNB’s Brady House branch in Mumbai.

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The PNB scam, one of India’s most notorious financial frauds, involved Choksi and Nirav Modi allegedly colluding with bank officials to issue 165 LoUs and 58 FLCs in 2017 without proper authorization or collateral. These fraudulent instruments enabled Choksi’s firms to secure over Rs 6,344.97 crore (approximately USD 965.18 million) in buyer’s credit from overseas banks, including SBI Mauritius, Allahabad Bank Hong Kong, and Bank of India Antwerp. When Choksi’s companies defaulted, PNB was forced to cover the payments, resulting in significant financial losses.

India has assured Belgian authorities that, if extradited, Choksi will be detained in Barrack No. 12 at Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail, a facility designed to meet European standards for prisoner treatment. The Union Home Ministry, in a September 4 communique, confirmed that the cell, measuring approximately 20 feet by 15 feet, includes a separate toilet and washroom, adequate ventilation, and amenities such as a cotton mat, pillow, bed sheet, and blanket. The facility offers daily cleaning, fresh drinking water, outdoor exercise areas, board games like chess and carrom, and access to yoga sessions through the Art of Living program. Inmates also have access to newspapers, terrestrial TV, videoconferencing, telemedicine services, weekly family visits, and daily lawyer meetings.

The CBI bolstered its extradition request by invoking the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), alongside two open-ended arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai special court in 2018 and 2021. These efforts underscore India’s determination to bring Choksi to justice, mirroring the ongoing legal battle against Nirav Modi, who has been detained in a London jail since 2019 while contesting his own extradition.

The Antwerp court’s ruling marks a critical step in India’s efforts to hold Choksi accountable for his alleged role in the PNB scam, which shocked the nation and exposed vulnerabilities in its banking system. As Choksi considers an appeal, Indian authorities remain vigilant, working to ensure that the fugitive jeweller faces trial in India for the massive fraud that defrauded PNB and its stakeholders.

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