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3w ago

Fugitive Diamond Trader Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium on India's Extradition Request

Choksi, accused in the Rs 13,500 crore PNB fraud, is in Belgian custody as India dispatches a high-level delegation to expedite his extradition.

Mehul Choksi, the owner of the Gitanjali Group and a central figure in one of India's largest bank frauds.
Mehul Choksi, ₹13000 crore scam accused, arrested in Belgium?
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Mehul Choksi had fled India back in 2018.

Overview

  • Mehul Choksi, wanted for defrauding Punjab National Bank of Rs 13,500 crore, was arrested in Belgium on April 12, 2025, following an extradition request from Indian authorities.
  • Indian agencies, including the CBI and ED, are preparing to send a delegation to Belgium to advance legal proceedings and ensure his extradition to India.
  • Choksi's legal team plans to challenge the extradition, citing his health condition and human rights concerns, including alleged poor prison conditions in India.
  • The arrest is based on two non-bailable warrants issued in India in 2018 and 2021, and comes after years of Choksi evading capture across multiple countries.
  • The extradition process will hinge on the India-Belgium treaty ratified in 2020, which allows extradition for financial crimes but faces potential legal hurdles due to Choksi's dual citizenship and health appeals.