Belgian court approves extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi to India
A court in Belgium on Friday approved the extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi to India, marking a major breakthrough in the country’s years-long effort to bring him back to face trial in the ₹13,000-crore bank fraud case, NDTV reported, quoting sources.
The Antwerp court ruled that Choksi’s arrest by Belgian police in April, based on a formal request from India, was valid and that the offences he is accused of are punishable under both Indian and Belgian law, fulfilling the requirement of dual criminality.
Choksi, 66, has the right to appeal the extradition order before the Belgian Supreme Court within 15 days, the court said.
According to court documents seen by NDTV, prosecutors representing India and Choksi’s legal team presented their arguments during a detailed hearing earlier this week.
The fugitive businessman, who has been lodged in a Belgian jail since April 11, has had multiple bail pleas rejected by the courts.
He faces charges of fraud, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and corruption under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
India, citing international conventions such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), submitted extensive evidence to support its extradition request.
The CBI made three visits to Belgium and engaged a European private law firm to assist in the case.
In its assurances to Belgian authorities, India guaranteed humane detention conditions for Choksi, stating he would be housed in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, with facilities meeting European standards.
These include clean water, food, newspapers, TV, medical access, and outdoor recreation, as well as assurance that he would not be placed in solitary confinement.
Authorities also detailed arrangements for security and hygiene, including daily cleaning, fresh bedding, and access to leisure activities such as chess, carrom, and badminton, NDTV has learned.
India maintains that Choksi remains an Indian citizen, disputing his claim of Antiguan nationality. Choksi has told the court that he renounced Indian citizenship in December 2018 after acquiring Antiguan citizenship in 2017, but Indian officials have presented evidence challenging that assertion.
The Belgian court noted India’s submission that Choksi is accused of defrauding Indian banks of ₹13,000 crore between 2018 and 2022 and agreed that he posed a significant flight risk, making his arrest and continued detention justified.
The CBI traced Choksi to Belgium in July 2024 and formally submitted the extradition request shortly after.
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