Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium on India’s Extradition Request: All You Need to Know
Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium following a formal extradition request from India. Choksi is a key accused in the ₹13,500-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case and had been evading Indian authorities for several years. His arrest marks a significant development in India’s ongoing efforts to bring back economic offenders who have fled the country.
Who is Mehul Choksi?
Mehul Choksi is the founder of Gitanjali Gems, a prominent jewellery retail chain in India. He is accused, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, of orchestrating one of the largest banking frauds in Indian history. The scam involved fraudulently obtaining letters of undertaking (LoUs) from PNB to secure overseas credit from other Indian banks, causing a loss of over ₹13,500 crore.
Choksi had initially fled to Antigua and Barbuda, where he acquired citizenship in 2017. After Indian authorities ramped up efforts to have him extradited, Choksi reportedly relocated to Belgium.
Residency in Belgium and Fraudulent Documents
According to reports from Associated Times, a Caribbean-focused media outlet, Mehul Choksi secured an ‘F Residency Card’ in Belgium on November 15, 2023. However, the report alleges that Choksi submitted forged and misleading documents to Belgian authorities during the application process. These reportedly included false declarations and forged papers, and he is said to have failed to disclose his Indian and Antiguan citizenships while misrepresenting his nationality.
Choksi’s wife, Preeti Choksi, is a Belgian citizen and was living with him in Antwerp. Sources also indicated that Choksi was planning to move to Switzerland, allegedly for treatment at a renowned cancer hospital. In February, his lawyer informed a Mumbai court that he was in Belgium undergoing treatment for suspected cancer.
Extradition Efforts by Indian Agencies
Despite the Interpol Red Notice against Choksi being deleted earlier, Indian authorities, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), persisted with their efforts. In March, Associated Times reported that India had formally requested the Belgian government to initiate extradition proceedings.
Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Saturday, as confirmed by PTI quoting official sources. The arrest follows India’s sustained diplomatic and legal campaign to secure his return to face justice.
The Larger Picture: Nirav Modi and the FEO Proceedings
While Choksi was on the run, his co-accused Nirav Modi was arrested in the United Kingdom, where he remains in custody and is contesting his extradition to India after several denied bail applications. Modi was declared a fugitive economic offender (FEO) by a Mumbai court in 2019.
The Enforcement Directorate has also been pursuing Choksi’s FEO status under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Declaring him an FEO would allow the Indian government to confiscate his properties and assets both in India and abroad. The ED’s plea for this declaration has been pending since 2018.
Choksi briefly disappeared from Antigua in May 2021 under mysterious circumstances and was later found in Dominica. He claimed he had been abducted, while authorities suspected an attempt to flee to another safe haven. He was eventually returned to Antigua under court orders.
Conclusion
Mehul Choksi’s arrest in Belgium represents a significant moment in India’s pursuit of economic fugitives. While his extradition process is expected to involve legal complexities, this development brings India one step closer to holding him accountable for one of the country’s most notorious financial frauds. The case also continues to highlight the importance of international cooperation in combating economic crimes.
