NEW DELHI: The Belgian federal public service of justice on Monday confirmed that India has filed an extradition request for fugitive Mehul Choksi , who has been arrested in Belgium for his involvement in the Rs 13,000 crore PNB bank loan "fraud" case.
The Belgian federal public service of justice said, "Mehul Choksi was arrested on Saturday, April 12, 2025. He is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. Access to his legal counsel has been assured. The Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice can confirm that the Indian authorities have introduced an extradition request for Choksi."
Choksi, 65, was taken into custody by Belgian authorities on Saturday (April 12) after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) requested his extradition. He had been living in Antigua since fleeing India in 2018, and was recently traced to Belgium, where he had reportedly gone for medical treatment.
Choksi is the second main accused in the PNB scam after his nephew, Nirav Modi, who is currently in a London prison and is also fighting extradition to India.
Sources said that although the Interpol Red Notice against Choksi was deleted some time ago, Indian agencies have been actively pursuing his extradition. Two arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai special court in 2018 and 2021 were shared with Belgian authorities as part of the request.
Formal extradition procedures are currently underway, and Choksi may seek bail on health grounds. His lawyer, Vijay Agarwal, confirmed the arrest and said that Choksi is currently in a Belgian prison.
"At the moment, he is in prison and there (Belgium), the procedure is not to apply for bail but file an appeal. During that appeal, request is made that he should not be kept in detention and he should be permitted to defend himself and oppose the extradition request while not being in custody," Agarwal said, adding that their legal defense will also highlight concerns about prison conditions in India and claim the case is politically motivated.
Choksi, his company Gitanjali Gems, Nirav Modi, their associates, and some PNB officials were booked by the CBI and ED in 2018 for allegedly cheating the bank. The scam involved the fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LOUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs), causing massive financial losses.
The CBI has filed two charge sheets against Choksi, while the ED has submitted three prosecution complaints in connection with the case.
'Choksi's arrest is a very big achievement': India
Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday called the arrest of Choksi a "success" for India's diplomatic efforts.
"Look, our external affairs minister has said clearly, and I will also repeat it. The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has had successful diplomacy, which is part of the foreign policy. Because of successful diplomacy only we can do this work (extradition). This is a proud moment for India," Meghwal said during a program paying tribute to BR Ambedkar.
Following Choksi's arrest, minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary lauded the move, calling it a "very big achievement."
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already said that those who have looted the money of the poor will have to return it. And action is being taken against such people in the country. Mehul Choksi has been arrested; it is definitely a very big achievement," Chaudhrary said.
'Choksi's human rights will be affected if extradited,' says his lawyer
Meanwhile, Choksi's lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, said that his "human rights" will be "greatly affected" if he is extradited back to the country.
"His human rights will be greatly affected," Aggarwal said. "That's a procedure. Basically, we will be defending it on two grounds. It is a political case and, secondly, because of the human condition in India," he added.
The Belgian federal public service of justice said, "Mehul Choksi was arrested on Saturday, April 12, 2025. He is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. Access to his legal counsel has been assured. The Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice can confirm that the Indian authorities have introduced an extradition request for Choksi."
Fugitive Mehul Choksi arrested in Belgium
— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2025
The Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice says, "Mehul Choksi was arrested on Saturday, April 12, 2025. He is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. Access to his legal counsel has been assured. The Belgian… pic.twitter.com/EUbTcmW8dx
Choksi, 65, was taken into custody by Belgian authorities on Saturday (April 12) after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) requested his extradition. He had been living in Antigua since fleeing India in 2018, and was recently traced to Belgium, where he had reportedly gone for medical treatment.
Choksi is the second main accused in the PNB scam after his nephew, Nirav Modi, who is currently in a London prison and is also fighting extradition to India.
Sources said that although the Interpol Red Notice against Choksi was deleted some time ago, Indian agencies have been actively pursuing his extradition. Two arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai special court in 2018 and 2021 were shared with Belgian authorities as part of the request.
Formal extradition procedures are currently underway, and Choksi may seek bail on health grounds. His lawyer, Vijay Agarwal, confirmed the arrest and said that Choksi is currently in a Belgian prison.
"At the moment, he is in prison and there (Belgium), the procedure is not to apply for bail but file an appeal. During that appeal, request is made that he should not be kept in detention and he should be permitted to defend himself and oppose the extradition request while not being in custody," Agarwal said, adding that their legal defense will also highlight concerns about prison conditions in India and claim the case is politically motivated.
Choksi, his company Gitanjali Gems, Nirav Modi, their associates, and some PNB officials were booked by the CBI and ED in 2018 for allegedly cheating the bank. The scam involved the fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LOUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs), causing massive financial losses.
The CBI has filed two charge sheets against Choksi, while the ED has submitted three prosecution complaints in connection with the case.
'Choksi's arrest is a very big achievement': India
Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday called the arrest of Choksi a "success" for India's diplomatic efforts.
"Look, our external affairs minister has said clearly, and I will also repeat it. The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has had successful diplomacy, which is part of the foreign policy. Because of successful diplomacy only we can do this work (extradition). This is a proud moment for India," Meghwal said during a program paying tribute to BR Ambedkar.
Following Choksi's arrest, minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary lauded the move, calling it a "very big achievement."
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already said that those who have looted the money of the poor will have to return it. And action is being taken against such people in the country. Mehul Choksi has been arrested; it is definitely a very big achievement," Chaudhrary said.
'Choksi's human rights will be affected if extradited,' says his lawyer
Meanwhile, Choksi's lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, said that his "human rights" will be "greatly affected" if he is extradited back to the country.
"His human rights will be greatly affected," Aggarwal said. "That's a procedure. Basically, we will be defending it on two grounds. It is a political case and, secondly, because of the human condition in India," he added.
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