New Delhi: Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has been apprehended in Belgium following India’s formal extradition request, marking a significant development in the ongoing Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case. This arrest comes weeks after reports surfaced confirming Choksi’s residency in Antwerp, Belgium, where he had reportedly obtained a ‘residency card’ and was living with his wife, Preeti Choksi.
Indian probe agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), have been relentlessly pursuing Choksi for his alleged involvement in the massive ₹13,000 crore (approximately $2 billion) fraud at PNB. Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme involving fraudulent letters of undertaking to siphon funds from the bank.
The detention in Belgium was reportedly executed based on two open-ended arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai court in 2018 and 2021. Following the deletion of an Interpol Red Notice against him, Indian authorities intensified their efforts through diplomatic channels, leading to this recent breakthrough.
Choksi had previously sought refuge in Antigua and Barbuda, even obtaining citizenship there. In 2021, he mysteriously disappeared from the Caribbean nation, only to reappear in Dominica, where he faced charges of illegal entry. While legal battles in Dominica eventually went in his favor, his relocation to Belgium has now paved the way for a renewed extradition push by India.
The legal process in Belgium is expected to be complex and potentially lengthy, as Choksi is likely to explore all available legal avenues to resist extradition. However, this arrest represents a crucial step forward for Indian authorities in their efforts to bring the alleged perpetrators of the PNB fraud to justice. His apprehension in a European nation underscores the sustained international pressure on fugitives accused of large-scale financial crimes.
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