Belgian Court Approves Mehul Choksi’s Extradition to India in Punjab National Bank Scam Case

In a significant development in India’s efforts to bring fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi to justice, a court in Antwerp, Belgium, has approved his extradition to India. The ruling marks a major breakthrough in the long-standing legal battle surrounding Choksi, who is accused of masterminding the multi-billion-rupee Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud.

Choksi, a former diamond trader, allegedly orchestrated a massive scam involving fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) that enabled illegal overseas credit worth over ₹13,000 crore. Indian authorities have charged him under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Despite fleeing India in 2018, Choksi remains a central figure in India’s efforts to recover the defrauded funds and prosecute those responsible.

The Belgian court’s approval comes after India provided detailed assurances regarding Choksi’s detention conditions, addressing human rights and legal concerns. These assurances include his placement in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, ensuring minimum personal space, proper bedding, clean food, medical care, and other amenities. The court found that India’s request met the principle of “dual criminality,” meaning the alleged offences are recognized under both Indian and Belgian law.

While the court’s decision clears a significant legal hurdle, Choksi still retains the right to appeal to Belgium’s Supreme Court. This could temporarily delay the extradition process, depending on the arguments he presents. Nevertheless, legal experts describe the ruling as a key victory for India, signaling international support for its pursuit of economic offenders and the recovery of defrauded funds.

Choksi’s extradition, if carried out, will also pave the way for the enforcement of laws such as the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, allowing Indian authorities to confiscate his assets. Over the years, Choksi has attempted to complicate legal proceedings by claiming citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda and challenging Indian jurisdiction. However, India continues to treat him as an Indian citizen for legal purposes, maintaining its claim over his extradition.

The PNB scam, often described as one of the largest banking frauds in Indian history, has had far-reaching consequences for the country’s financial system. Bringing Choksi back to India is seen as a critical step in ensuring accountability, sending a strong message that economic offenders cannot evade justice by fleeing abroad.

With the Belgian court’s approval, India is now closer to finally holding Mehul Choksi accountable and pursuing justice for one of the most high-profile banking scams in the nation’s history.

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