Belgian Court clears Mehul Choksi’s extradition to India, calls arrest valid in PNB scam case

Choksi, detained in Belgium since April, faces charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and corruption in India

October 17, 2025

Belgian Court Upholds Mehul Choksi Arrest in ₹13,000 Crore Scam

The ruling marks a major milestone in India’s pursuit of the fugitive diamantaire

In a major boost to India’s efforts to bring back fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, a court in Antwerp, Belgium, has ordered his extradition to India, ruling that his arrest by Belgian authorities on India’s request was valid.

According to officials, the decision marks a significant milestone in India’s long-standing pursuit of Choksi, who is wanted in the ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. However, Choksi still has the right to appeal before a higher court.

“The order has come in our favour. The court has termed his arrest valid. The first legal step in getting him extradited is now clear,” a senior official told PTI.

Court upholds India’s request

The Antwerp court heard the case on Friday, with Belgian prosecutors representing India and Choksi’s legal team presenting arguments. After reviewing the evidence, the court ruled that India’s extradition request and Choksi’s arrest by local police were legally sound.

The 65-year-old businessman was detained on April 11 following a request from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and has remained in custody for over four months. His repeated bail pleas have been rejected by Belgian courts.

India’s legal case

India’s extradition request cited several provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:

Section 120B (criminal conspiracy)
Section 201 (destruction of evidence)
Section 409 (criminal breach of trust)
Section 420 (cheating)
Section 477A (falsification of accounts)

It also invoked Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and was filed under the dual criminality clause, as the offences are punishable under Belgian law as well.

To bolster the case, India referred to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

India’s assurances to Belgium

During proceedings, India assured the Belgian court that Choksi would be detained at Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, which meets European human rights standards set by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).

A CBI team has travelled multiple times to Belgium, working with a European law firm to submit detailed documentation on Choksi’s alleged role in the fraud and diversion of funds.

The PNB scam background

The PNB fraud, exposed in early 2018, is among India’s largest financial scams. It involved fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) issued by PNB employees to Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi’s firms, enabling them to secure overseas credit without proper collateral.

Between 2011 and 2018, unauthorized LoUs were issued via the SWIFT system without being recorded in the bank’s books, allowing Modi and Choksi’s companies to siphon off approximately ₹13,000 crore.

Both Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi fled India before the scam was uncovered. While Modi is currently in UK custody pending extradition, the Antwerp ruling marks the first major breakthrough in bringing Choksi back to India to face trial.

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