Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has escalated his battle against extradition by filing an appeal in Belgium’s Supreme Court (Court of Cassation) on October 30, challenging a lower court’s approval of India’s request to bring him back for the ₹13,000-crore PNB scam. The move suspends his extradition pending a ruling strictly on legal grounds, confirmed Advocate General Ken Witpas. Choksi, 66, was traced to Belgium seeking medical treatment after fleeing India in January 2018, just before the fraud surfaced.
On October 17, a four-member Antwerp Court of Appeals upheld a November 29, 2024, district court order declaring two Mumbai arrest warrants—issued in May 2018 and June 2021—fully enforceable. The court rejected Choksi’s claims of facing political persecution, torture, or unfair trial in India, stating he provided no “concretely plausible” evidence. It emphasized that India’s assurances on prison conditions, medical care, and due process were credible and binding.
The Central Bureau of Investigation alleges Choksi personally siphoned ₹6,400 crore through fraudulent Letters of Undertaking issued by Punjab National Bank. After the scam broke, he acquired Antiguan citizenship and went underground, only to resurface in Belgium. India formally requested extradition on August 27, 2024, triggering swift judicial action in Antwerp’s Turnhout Division.
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Choksi’s appeal to the Court of Cassation is his final legal recourse in Belgium. The Supreme Court will review only procedural and legal errors, not re-examine facts. If rejected, extradition proceedings will resume immediately. Indian authorities have prepared a high-security cell in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, equipped with CCTV, medical facilities, and basic amenities to meet international standards.
As the case inches closer to resolution, Choksi’s prolonged evasion faces its toughest test. With Belgium’s top court now holding the key, the outcome will determine whether the mastermind behind one of India’s largest banking frauds finally returns to face justice—or slips away once more.
Also Read: Fugitive Jeweller Choksi Faces Extradition After Belgium Court Ruling