- By Priyanka Koul
- Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:14 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Mehul Choksi’s Extradition: A court in Antwerp on Friday cleared the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, noting that his arrest by the Belgian authorities on India's request was valid, officials in the know of the development said.
The order has come as a strong validation for India's case seeking his extradition, with Choksi having the option of appealing against the decision in a superior court in Belgium, they said.
Belgian prosecutors were aided by Indian officials from the external affairs ministry and the CBI in putting forth strong arguments on Choksi's alleged crime in orchestrating a Rs 13,000 crore scam in the Punjab National Bank in collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi.
The prosecutors told the court that he remains a flight risk and cannot be released from prison, the officials said.
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Background: Mehul Choksi Case
Choksi, a key accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud, was arrested in Belgium in April on a request from Indian authorities. Along with his nephew Nirav Modi, he is charged with fraudulent transactions and faces multiple cases of bank fraud.
He has been booked under the IPC for conspiracy, cheating, and falsification of accounts, as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act. Since these offences are also recognised under Belgian law, the dual criminality clause applies, strengthening India’s extradition request. The CBI has also invoked UN conventions on organised crime and corruption to back its plea.
( With PTI Inputs )