Mehul Choksi To Be Kept in Mumbai Jail Cell With Separate Toilet If Extradited: What We Know

Mumbai: Belgium's Antwerp Court of Appeal has found that the offences attributed to fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi are extraditable under both Indian and Belgian law, paving the way for his return

to India to face trial in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.In a detailed judgment, the court observed that the offences are punishable under Indian law by virtue of Sections 120-B read with 201, 409, 420, and 477-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 7 and 13(2) read with 13(1)(c) and (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988—each carrying a sentence of more than one year.The court also ruled that Choksi failed to demonstrate any "serious risk" of being subjected to torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment. It found no risk that he would be denied a fair trial in India upon extradition.

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Where Will Mehul Choksi Be Kept if Extradited to India?

Since the Belgian court has dismissed Choksi's plea against extradition and found his offences as extraditable, the question is, Where will Mehul Choksi be kept if he's extradited from Belgium?The fugitive diamond merchant, Choksi will be kept in Arthur Road Jail, Barrack no. 12. The Indian authorities have presented detailed architectural drawings and interior images of Mumbai's high-security jail where Choksi would be lodged to the Belgian court as part of India’s affidavit assuring humane detention conditions.Times Now has exclusively accessed pictures of Barrack No. 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai.Since the primary offence of bank fraud was registered by the CBI in Mumbai in January 2018, Choksi will be kept in Arthur Road Jail.In September, India gave a sovereign guarantee to the Belgian government that Mehul Choksi’s human rights would not be violated and that he would be provided with humane detention conditions.A similar assurance has been given to the Crown Prosecution Service ahead of Nirav Modi’s second extradition legal battle, which is set to come before Westminster Court next month.

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What Facilities Are There in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail, Barrack No 12?

Sources said Barrack No. 12 has been designated for Choksi. “It measures around 46.5 square metres (approximately 500 sq. ft.), and comprises a main room, passage area, washroom facilities, and a separate toilet,” said sources.The facility also features ventilated windows with mosquito nets, grilled doors for security, ceiling fans, and tube lights. It includes a wash basin and shower with running water, as well as PVC flooring and wall tiles for enhanced hygiene.For security purposes, 24x7 CCTV surveillance and mobile jammers have been installed. These facilities meet international detention norms, said sources.“It cannot be inferred from the documents supplied by the person concerned that he was kidnapped in Antigua on the instructions of the Indian authorities,” the Antwerp Court of Appeal stated while upholding India’s request for Choksi’s extradition.“Choksi will reside exclusively in Barrack No. 12 and will only be moved for medical reasons or to attend court hearings. He will be at the disposal of the Judicial Courts in India and not of the investigating agency,” the Belgian court said in its order.Following the Belgian court’s ruling, sources described it as a success for India in the ongoing extradition proceedings against Mehul Choksi.The Court of Appeal in Antwerp, Belgium, after hearing the matter, issued a preliminary judgment rejecting Mehul Choksi’s appeal against extradition.

Can Choksi Still Appeal Against Extradition?

This marks a win and the first step toward his extradition. He may now appeal the order before the Belgian Supreme Court within the next 15 days.Choksi was provisionally arrested on 11 April 2025 in Antwerp on the extradition request of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and has remained in Antwerp Prison since then. His multiple bail petitions have also been rejected after being effectively countered since April this year.