Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium amid Extradition Request from India
Mehul Choksi, wanted for loan fraud, was arrested in Belgium; he faces extradition to India as part of ongoing legal proceedings. Choksi claims health issues impede travel. His case underscores India’s strengthened diplomatic ties with Belgium, including a recent extradition treaty.
Belgium has confirmed the arrest of Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamond businessman, amid India’s extradition request. Choksi, alongside his nephew Nirav Modi, is implicated in a substantial loan fraud case involving Punjab National Bank that amounts to over ₹13,578 crore. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought his extradition since 2018, when he left India.
Choksi, holding Antiguan citizenship, had relocated to Belgium reportedly for cancer treatment. He was apprehended near his residence in Antwerp, where he acquired a Belgian residency permit in November 2023 through his Belgian citizen wife. In a recent court petition, he claimed to suffer from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and stated he was unable to travel.
The Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice confirmed his detention, highlighting that India’s extradition request is now pending judicial proceedings. They also assured access to legal counsel for Choksi. His case is set to be presented in Belgian courts next week.
In 2021, a Dominica court declined a CBI extradition request, following allegations by Choksi that he was kidnapped by operatives linked to the Indian government. Subsequently, Interpol withdrew their Red Notice against him due to claims of human rights violations and political targeting.
Simon Bekaert, Choksi’s Belgian lawyer, commented on the upcoming extradition fight, expressing doubts about the fairness of a trial in India. Meanwhile, Choksi is appealing against the revocation of his Antiguan citizenship, while Nirav Modi remains imprisoned in the UK, fighting his own extradition to India.
The Union Law Minister noted that Choksi’s arrest signifies a successful diplomatic effort by India. This development follows strengthened Indo-Belgian relations, underscored by a signed extradition treaty in March 2020 and recent high-level visits between the two nations.
Choksi and Modi face multiple charges of cheating Punjab National Bank using fraudulent documents, triggering extensive cases by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate for money laundering. They fled India in January 2018 just prior to the initiation of the CBI investigation into the alleged fraud.
Mehul Choksi’s recent arrest in Belgium marks a significant development in India’s ongoing efforts to extradite him for alleged loan fraud linked to Punjab National Bank. Choksi’s claim of being unwell and the potential for his extradition trial will likely unfold in the coming weeks, revealing more about the dynamics of international legal proceedings amid allegations of political motivations. The strengthening of diplomatic ties between India and Belgium highlights a proactive approach in dealing with fugitive cases.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
