Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi faced another legal hurdle as a Belgium court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of his petition challenging his recent arrest in connection with the Rs 14,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. Arrested on April 12 in Antwerp at the request of Indian authorities, Mehul Choksi’s attempts to escape extradition have encountered fresh obstacles, even as India intensifies efforts to bring him back for trial.
Mehul Choksi’s Bail Plea and Arrest Challenge Falter
Mehul Choksi, who has been living in Belgium with his wife Preeti—reportedly a Belgian citizen—filed a plea claiming his arrest was unlawful and violated basic legal norms. He argued that Belgian police failed to follow due process and infringed upon his fundamental rights. This plea marks his second legal move in quick succession, following a bail request that was rejected by the court on April 22. In that earlier petition, Choksi cited poor health and offered to wear a GPS tracking anklet to ensure compliance with court directions, expressing a desire to reunite with his family. The court, however, dismissed the appeal, and a new date for the adjourned hearing remains unannounced.
India Ramps Up Extradition Efforts
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been actively coordinating with Belgian authorities to facilitate Mehul Choksi’s extradition. The arrest was executed based on two open-ended non-bailable arrest warrants issued by a special court in Mumbai in 2018 and 2021. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Indian agencies are working closely with Belgium, emphasizing the need to bring Choksi back to face trial. “Based on our extradition request, he was arrested. We are working closely with the Belgium side on his extradition so that he can face trial in the country,” Jaiswal stated.
Mehul Choksi is one of the key accused in the massive banking fraud, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, who is currently lodged in a UK jail and fighting his own extradition to India. Mehul Choksi had earlier fled to Antigua and Barbuda, but his recent presence in Belgium and subsequent arrest marks a turning point in the long-running case. The case has drawn significant attention in India due to its scale, high-profile nature, and the government’s pursuit of economic offenders abroad.
