In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing pursuit of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, Belgian police arrested him over the weekend while he was attempting to flee to Switzerland under the pretext of seeking medical treatment. Choksi, a prime suspect in India’s ₹13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, had been on the run since 2018. His arrest in Belgium marks the latest chapter in a relentless seven-year hunt by Indian authorities across multiple countries.
Background of the Case:
Mehul Choksi, the owner of the Gitanjali Group, is at the center of one of India’s most notorious financial frauds, in which he and his nephew Nirav Modi allegedly embezzled billions from PNB through a series of fraudulent transactions. Choksi fled India in 2018 along with his family, and he later acquired Antiguan citizenship through an investment program, complicating India’s efforts to extradite him.
After his escape, Choksi’s whereabouts became a mystery, and he was believed to have traveled between various countries. In 2021, he was arrested in the Dominican Republic on charges of illegal entry, but a legal battle led to his release and eventual return to Antigua. However, Indian authorities never gave up on the pursuit, and the recent developments suggest they are inching closer to bringing him back to India.
The Attempt to Escape to Switzerland:
According to reports, Choksi had been attempting to flee to Switzerland for cancer treatment at the renowned Hirslanden Klinik Aarau in Switzerland. Indian officials, acting on intelligence inputs, alerted Belgian authorities about his plans. Choksi, who had obtained a residency card from Belgium under suspicious circumstances, was caught just as he tried to make his escape.
Choksi’s Belgian residency, obtained in November last year, had been issued under the false pretense of humanitarian grounds and medical conditions. The residency application, reportedly backed by his wife Preeti Choksi, had concealed his dual citizenship status, as he remained both an Indian and Antiguan citizen.
Indian authorities moved swiftly when they learned of Choksi’s attempts to upgrade his residency to an F+ card, which would have significantly complicated his extradition. As a result, Belgian authorities suspended the upgrade process and arrested Choksi in Antwerp, based on two non-bailable warrants issued by a Mumbai court in 2018 and 2021.
Legal Battle and Extradition Process:
Currently held in a Belgian jail, Choksi’s legal team, led by his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, has confirmed his arrest. Aggarwal indicated that efforts are underway to secure his release, citing Choksi’s health and need for medical treatment as the basis for an appeal. The lawyer stated, “We will be starting the process of filing an appeal against this, and then we will be requesting that he be pulled out of prison.”
This is not the first time Choksi has faced legal challenges. In 2021, his arrest in the Dominican Republic sparked a dramatic legal battle that ultimately allowed him to return to Antigua after spending 51 days in jail. His previous attempts to cooperate with Indian agencies, including offering to give testimony via video conference, were rejected.
Closer to Justice:
With Choksi’s arrest, India is closer than ever to bringing him back to face trial for his role in the massive PNB fraud. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are preparing to initiate formal extradition proceedings in Belgium, and authorities are hopeful that Choksi’s return to India is now imminent.
Indian officials are cautiously optimistic that this arrest will finally bring the fugitive businessman to justice and serve as a crucial step in holding him accountable for one of the largest financial scams in the country’s history.
Sources By Agencies
