New Delhi, Mar 21 (ANI): (File Photo) The removal of Mehul Chinubhai Choksi's name from the Interpol database of Red Notices will make the fugitive diamantaire eligible to travel at will to any other country, apart from India, where he faces multiple cases, according to government sources on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Brussels [Belgium], April 14 (ANI): The Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice on Monday confirmed that fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi was arrested on April 12 and is currently being held in detention. It further stated that India has also submitted a request for his extradition.
“The Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice can confirm that Mr. Mehul Choksi was arrested on Saturday, April 12, 2025. He is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. Access to his legal counsel has been assured,” the Belgian authority told ANI.
They also confirmed that Indian authorities have officially introduced an extradition request for Choksi.
“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,” the statement added.
The 65-year-old fugitive diamond merchant, who fled India on January 2, 2018, is wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly defrauding the Punjab National Bank (PNB) of ₹13,850 crore. His nephew, Nirav Modi, was also allegedly involved in the fraud.
Choksi is accused of conspiring with his associates and certain PNB officials between 2014 and 2017 to fraudulently obtain Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit from the bank, causing a wrongful loss of ₹6,097.63 crore to PNB.
Following his arrest, Choksi’s lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, stated that his client’s “human rights” would be “greatly affected” if extradited back to India.
During a press conference on Monday, Aggarwal said the defense team would challenge the extradition on two primary grounds: the political nature of the case and concerns over Choksi’s medical treatment if returned to India.
“His human rights will be greatly affected,” Aggarwal said, referring to possible mistreatment and lack of proper healthcare if extradited.
“That’s a procedure. Basically, we will be defending it on two grounds. It is a political case and, secondly, because of the human condition in India,” he added.
Aggarwal further claimed that Choksi had not been formally declared a fugitive and had remained cooperative with Indian investigative agencies. He also noted that legal proceedings in the matter have been ongoing for years.
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