Belgian officials say India has filed India News for extradition of fugitive Mehul Choksi
New Delhi: Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice on Monday confirmed that India filed a extradition request for fugitive Mehul Choksi, who had been arrested for joining the PNB Bank Loan “Fraud” of Rs 13,000 crore in Belgium.
Belgian’s federal public service said, “Mehul Choksi was arrested on Saturday, April 12, 2025. He is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. The assurance of access to his legal lawyer. Belgian federal public service of justice can confirm that Indian authorities have offered a proficiency request for Choksi.”
Choksi, 65, was detained after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by Belgium officials on Saturday (April 12) and requested his extradition by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He had been living in Antigua since he escaped from India in 2018, and was recently detected in Belgium, where he had allegedly gone for medical treatment.
Choksi is the second main accused in the PNB scam after her nephew, Nirav Modi, who is currently in London Jail and is also extradition for India.
Sources said the Interpol Red notice against Choksi was removed some time ago, Indian agencies are actively pursuing their extradition. In 2018 and 2021, two arrest warrants issued by the Special Court of Mumbai were shared with Belgium officials as part of the request.
The formal extradition process is currently underway, and Choksi may demand bail on health basis. His lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal confirmed the arrest and said that Choksi is currently in Belgian jail.
“Currently, he is in jail and there (Belgium), not to apply for the process bail, but to file an appeal. During that appeal, it is requested that he should not be kept in custody and he should be allowed to defend himself and to oppose the request of extradition, while his legal defense, which is also exposing the jail terms in India.
Choksi, his company Geetanjali Ratna, Nirav Modi, his colleagues, and some PNB officials were booked in CBI and Ed 2018 to allegedly cheat the bank. The scam included letters of undertaking (lous) and the release of credit for foreign letters (FLCs), causing large -scale financial losses.
The CBI has filed two charge sheets against Choksi, while the ED has submitted three prosecution complaints regarding the case.
‘Choksi’s arrest is one hugeAchievement ‘: India
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday called Choksi’s arrest “success” for India’s diplomatic efforts.
“Look, our external affairs minister has clearly stated, and I will repeat it.
After Choksi’s arrest, Finance Minister Pankaj Chaudhary appreciated the move, called 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 huge achievement,” said Chaudhri.
His lawyer says, “Choksi’s human rights will be affected if his lawyer says
Meanwhile, Choksi’s lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal said that his “human rights” would be “very impressed” if he is extradited back into the country.
Aggarwal said, “His human rights will be very impressed.” “This is a process. Originally, we will defend it on two grounds. This is a political matter and the other thing is that due to the human situation in India,” he said.
