Fugitive businessman’s figure Mehul Choksi. | Photo credit: ANI
The Belgian authorities confirmed on Monday (April 14, 2025) that have Mehul Choksi, the fugitive diamond businessman, in custody after being arrested over the weekend. It is sought, along with its Fephew Nirav Modi, in a case of the National Punjab Bank alleging loan fraud worth more than ₹ 13,578 million rupees. The Central Research Office (CBI) has been chasing its extradition since 2018 when it left the country.
Mr. Chaksi is an old citizen today, and had moved Belgium a few years ago, according to reports for cancer treatment. He was arrested near his home in Antwerp. According to reports, he said a Belgian residence permit in November 2023, since his wife is Belgian citizen. In a request presented to a special court in Mumbai in February of this year, Mr. Choksi had supplier medical documents that said he suffered from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (blood cancer) and could not travel.
“[Mr. Choksi] It is being arrested in advance of more judicial procedures. Access to his legal advisor has been insured, ”said the Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice or Department of Justice. The Hindu In a written statement. “We can confirm that the Indian authorities have introduced an extradition request for Mr. Choksi,” he added.
Also read | The fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi who lives in the Belgian Antwerp: Report
The case of Mr. Choksi will appear in the Belgian courts next week. This is not the first time he faces an extradition trial. In 2021, a court in Dominica dismissed a request for CBI for extradition after he claimed that he had kidnapped on his legs and beaten by “Acts” that worked for the Indian government. The International Interpol agency had subsequently withdrawn its red notice for Mr. Choksi after his lawyers had claimed violations of human rights and the “political orientation” by the Modi government.
“It is not necessary to say that we will fight in that extradition, we have serious questions about the course of the events,” said Belgian lawyer from Mr. Choksi, Simon Bekaert, to the newspaper The standardAdding that he intended to argue that Mr. Choksi would not receive a “fair trial” in India.
Mr. Chaksi is currently appealing a decision of the ancient government to revoke his citizenship. His nephew, Mr. Nirav, has also arrested in the United Kingdom at the request of India and has bones in prison since 2019 while appealing against his extradition to India.
The Ministry of External Affairs did not comment on the last development, but the Minister of Law of the Union, Arjun Ram Meghwal, said that Mr. Chaksi’s judgment was a victory of government diplomacy. “It is a matter of pride for India,” journalists told journalists to commemorate the 135th anniversary of Br Ambedkar.
India has intensified bonds with Belgium in recent years, and both countries signed an extradition treaty in March 2020. Last month, Belgian Princess Astrid directed a high -power economic delegation accompanied by high -level ministers to India, while PHIDENDERA Primipe.
Also read | Belgium following closely the case of Mehul Choksi, says the government spokesman
Multiple registered cases
Mr. Choksi and his nephew, Mr. Nirav, have been accused of deceiving the Punjab National Bank for a sum of ₹ 13,578 million rupees through the use of fraudulent comprehension letters and other credit facilities. The CBI has registered multiple cases against them and their companies. According to these cases, the configuration management is also carrying out a money laundering investigation and has attached assets in India and abroad, even in the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Japan.
The accused people fled from the country along with their family members in January 2018, days before the CBI registered their first case to investigate the alleged scam. In the end it turned out that Mr. Choksi had assured ancient citizenship in November 2017. India transferred a request for his extradition in August 2018. On the plea of investigation agencies, Interpol also issued a red notice against him that year.
Mr. Choksi’s trial in Dominica in May 2021 caused a controversy after he claimed that he was kidnapped from Antigua. A Dominican court gave him the bond for medical reasons, after which he returned to Antigua. In March 2023, taking note of his application, Interpol withdrew the red notice.
On April 12, Mr. Chaksi was arrested by the Belgium Control Agency, months after India transferred a request in search of his extradition to face the trial in a court here for the alleged crimes. According to the CBI, a red notice is not a mandatory prerequisite for the extradition of a person who wishes for any crime. “The extradition request made by India is under active consideration before the authorities in Antigua and Barbuda and remains completely affected by communications related to Avie Network with Interpol,” he said previously.
(Sándep Phukan tickets)
Published – April 14, 2025 09:38 pm ist
