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India Issues Sovereign Jail Assurances to Belgium for Mehul Choksi Extradition

Belgian courts will assess the promised Arthur Road conditions against ECHR standards before ruling on surrender.

Overview

  • India’s Home Ministry sent a formal assurance detailing Choksi’s detention at Arthur Road Jail’s Barrack No. 12, specifying at least three square metres of personal space in a six-person unit currently unoccupied.
  • The letter promises no solitary confinement, round-the-clock monitoring, daily exercise and recreation, three meals with dietary accommodations, and access to a canteen and library.
  • Medical provisions include 24/7 care by six medical officers, a 20‑bed prison hospital with ICU capability, and emergency referrals to Mumbai’s Sir J. J. Hospital, with consideration of existing medical reports.
  • The government characterises the commitments as a binding sovereign assurance with CCTV coverage, NHRC and SHRC inspections, judicial oversight, complaint channels, and regular access to lawyers and weekly family visits.
  • Choksi, arrested in Antwerp in April on India’s request, remains in Belgian custody after bail refusals as the Chambers of Indictment consider the assurances alongside extradition law and evidence.