A Belgian appeals court has ruled in favour of extraditing fugitive Indian diamond merchant Mehul Choksi to India, dismissing his long-standing objections, including claims of political persecution and substandard prison conditions, paving the way for his return to face charges in one of the country's largest banking frauds. The Antwerp Court of Appeal's decision on October 17, 2025, found no legal barriers under Indian or Belgian law, affirming the dual criminality of the offences—ranging from criminal conspiracy and cheating to corruption—and rejecting Choksi's narrative of abduction from Antigua in 2021. Choksi, 66, who fled India on January 2, 2018, just days before the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam surfaced, was arrested in Antwerp on April 11, 2025, following a formal request from India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Accused alongside his nephew Nirav Modi of defrauding PNB of over ₹13,850 crore through fraudulent letters of undertaking, Choksi's case has spanned multiple jurisdictions, including Antigua and Dominica, where he acquired citizenship via investment in 2017. The ruling, which excludes one minor charge under Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code for lacking a Belgian equivalent, allows Belgium to proceed with the handover, though Choksi has 15 days to appeal to the Supreme Court, potentially delaying his departure by months. This development marks a significant victory for Indian agencies amid ongoing extradition battles, with Modi still detained in the UK since 2019.

Central to Choksi's defence has been his repeated assertion that Indian prisons fail international human rights standards, a tactic echoing that of fellow fugitive Vijay Mallya during UK proceedings. In August 2018, shortly after fleeing amid the scam's exposure, Choksi contested a CBI request for an Interpol Red Corner Notice, arguing that "conditions in Indian jails are not good" and violate basic dignities, citing overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of ventilation. He claimed such environments would endanger his health and right to a fair trial, bolstered by reports on facilities like Tihar Jail and cases involving political detainees.

The CBI countered then—and reiterated in Belgium—that Indian jails adhere to state manuals, with co-accused in the PNB case reporting no such issues post-arrest or bail. Choksi's lawyers submitted extensive documentation, including NGO critiques and media clippings, but the Antwerp court deemed them irrelevant, noting they pertained to unrelated high-risk inmates rather than white-collar offenders like him. This irony underscores a broader pattern in economic fugitive cases, where assurances on custody become pivotal in international extraditions, as seen in prior successes with Mallya and Rana.

To assuage these concerns, India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) provided a detailed affidavit with architectural blueprints and interior photographs of Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, designating Barrack No. 12 as Choksi's housing upon arrival. This high-security barrack, spanning 46 square metres and accommodating up to six non-violent economic offenders, features two private cells with attached sanitation, ensuring at least three square metres of personal space per inmate—aligning with Council of Europe standards. Well-ventilated with natural light, constant CCTV monitoring, and 24/7 security outside the cells, it excludes solitary confinement and guarantees daily recreation exceeding one hour and access to newspapers, board games, and yoga sessions.

Medical provisions are robust: a 20-bed on-site hospital with ICU, ECG, psychiatry, TB, and dental wards, staffed round-the-clock by doctors and nurses, plus an in-house ambulance for transfers to nearby Sir J.J. Hospital, just three kilometres away. Choksi may consult private specialists at his expense, via in-person or video, with oversight from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ensuring compliance. The barrack, recently refurbished and currently under capacity, contrasts sharply with Choksi's 2018 depictions, highlighting reforms in facilities for high-profile detainees like the 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab, housed in an adjacent secure wing.

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The court's endorsement of these arrangements reinforces India's evolving extradition strategy, emphasising transparency to counter human rights narratives that have stalled cases for years. As Choksi's legal team weighs its next move, the PNB case—filed under Sections 120B, 409, 420, and 477A of the IPC, plus the Prevention of Corruption Act—looms large, with potential sentences exceeding seven years. Recovery efforts have already attached assets worth over ₹1,200 crore, but full restitution remains elusive. This ruling not only advances accountability in financial crimes but also signals to global fugitives that evasion tactics, including jail condition ploys, face increasing scrutiny. Upon extradition, Choksi's arrival in Mumbai under escort will cap a seven-year manhunt, potentially reshaping precedents for similar probes involving laundering networks that eroded public trust in banking systems.

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