The Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice confirmed that fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi was arrested on April 12 and, following a request from Indian authorities, is being detained "in anticipation of further judicial proceedings," the Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice said on Monday. The service also stated that India has submitted a request for his extradition.

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"The Belgian federal public service of Justice can confirm that Mr. Mehul Choksi was arrested on Saturday 12th of April 2025. He is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. Access to his legal counsel has been assured," the Belgian federal public service of Justice told ANI.

"Finally, the Belgian federal public service of Justice can confirm that the Indian authorities have introduced an extradition request for Mr. Choksi. As is standard in individual cases, no further details can be released at this stage," they said.

Choksi, who has been residing in Belgium since leaving Antigua and Barbuda last year, was arrested at India's request, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had asked Belgian authorities to detain Choksi last year, prior to submitting an official extradition request.

Choksi’s lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, informed a Mumbai court in February that his client was in Belgium for medical treatment. The court was hearing a plea from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to declare Choksi a fugitive under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA).

An officer, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that Choksi’s bail process would take time, as the CBI is in contact with Belgian authorities to carry out the extradition request.

Who is Mehul Choksi? 

The 65-year-old fugitive diamond merchant, Mehul Choksi, who fled India on January 2, 2018 was wanted by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) of Rs 13,850 crore. His nephew, Nirav Modi, was also implicated in the fraud case. Choksi is accused of conspiring to obtain Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit fromPNB, causing a loss of Rs 6,097.63 crore to the bank. 

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Amid Choksi's arrest, his lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, expressed  concerns about his client’s rights, stating that they would be greatly affected if he were sent back to India. During a press conference on Monday, Lawyer said that the defence team would challenge the extradition on two primary grounds, first, the political nature of the case and second is, concern regarding Choksi’s health condition in India.  

Aggarwal also claimed that Choksi had not been declared a fugitive because he had been cooperative with Indian investigative agencies. He further emphasised that the case had been ongoing for several years.