Big Belgium Court Setback For Mehul Choksi, Wanted in Rs 13,000 cr PNB Scam Case

In a huge win for India, a court in Belgium has ordered the extradition of diamond merchant Mehul Choksi, 65, to India to face trial in the ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case. The preliminary

order was passed by a court in Antwerp following India's extradition request. Mehul Choksi can, however, appeal against it."A preliminary order has been passed by Antwerp court upholding India's extradition request. Mehul Choksi can appeal against it," an official aware of the development told Times Now.Choksi was arrested in Belgium on April 12.The 65-year-old fugitive was caught by the Belgian authorities after an extradition request from Indian agencies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).He had been residing in Antigua since fleeing India in 2018 and had acquired citizenship of the Caribbean nation, despite his Indian citizenship being said to be valid. In November 2023, he reportedly arrived in Belgium claiming to seek medical treatment.Indian agencies have provided Belgian authorities with at least two open-ended arrest warrants, issued by a special Mumbai court in 2018 and 2021, as part of their extradition request.Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, several family members, employees, and bank officials, was named in cases filed by the CBI and ED in 2018. The charges are related to a massive loan fraud involving fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LOUs) and manipulation of Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs) at PNB's Brady House branch in Mumbai.