Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi, wanted by Indian authorities in the ₹13,850 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, was arrested in Belgium on Saturday by local law enforcement. The 65-year-old has been on the run since 2018 and is facing multiple charges filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Although the arrest is a milestone, lawyers and complainants caution that it may not be possible to get Mehul Choksi back to India anytime soon.
Legal Maze Ahead for India
Hariprasad, one of the complainants in the case, was skeptical about a quick extradition process. “Extradition is not an easy task. Choksi’s wallet is full, and he will employ the best lawyers in Europe to avoid the process like what Vijay Maliya has been doing. I don’t think it is going to be easy for India to get him back,” ANI quoted him as saying.
He said Choksi’s lawyers had previously managed to help him escape the law during past arrests on Caribbean islands. “When he was caught in Antigua (Dominica) and other islands, he could manage to get out of it because he has a fleet of lawyers. But I wish and hope that this time, the Indian government will succeed,” he said.
Diplomatic Challenges and Legal Rights
Ex-diplomat KP Fabian shared a guarded optimism, stating the decision rests with the Belgian government. “It will be great if it can be done, but again, Rana, how many years has he taken us? When was 26/11, 2008. And we got him in 2025. So, all these, all the extradition proceedings will take time. But there can be obstacles,” Fabian said.
He went on to clarify that Mehul Choksi has all the right to contest extradition in Belgian courts, which may take a long time. “Well, I’ll put it this way: India wants him extradited, and Belgium has to take the decision. Now, even the Belgium Internal affairs and the foreign affairs, take that decision. Choksi has the option of going to court in Belgium. And then there can be arguments, pros and cons,” he stated.
Fabian further said that Interpol had revoked the Red Corner Notice against Choksi in 2023, possibly due to its ineffectiveness. “We can’t jump to the conclusion that tomorrow or day after Belgium is going to extradite him because there is a legal process, even if the Belgian government decides, he can go to court. So, whether eventually he’ll be extradited or not at this moment we can’t say, but obviously we should try hard, as hard as necessary to get him,” he said.
Legal Defence of Mehul Choksi Raises Human Rights Concerns
After the arrest, Mehul Choksi’s attorney, Vijay Aggarwal, clearly stated that his team would oppose any attempts at extradition. Attending a press conference, Aggarwal stated, “Basically, we will be defending it on two grounds. It is a political case, and secondly, it is because of the human rights conditions in India.”
He also maintained that Choksi had never officially been a declared fugitive since he always cooperated with Indian investigating agencies. “We have always maintained in the entire court that he is ready to join, but because of his medical condition, he cannot travel. That is why we initially maintained that the Indian agency could investigate, and he will join on VC (video conference). That is why, to date, everyone has been declared a fugitive, but Mehul Choksi is not a fugitive. Our case has been going on for years now,” said Aggarwal.
Health Issues of Mehul Choksi Complicate Extradition
Adding another layer of complexity, Aggarwal highlighted Choksi’s deteriorating health. “He is extremely sick. He is undergoing treatment for cancer, and the last time he was picked up from Antigua by the Indian agencies, because of the torture, he was feeling very claustrophobic and had got some permanent deformities, as well as suffering from PTSD.”
What’s Next?
In spite of the high-profile detention, the way to extradite Mehul Choksi to India is still uncertain. Legal challenges, political considerations, and human rights concerns could put proceedings on ice for months or even years. Indian authorities will, however, push hard to return Choksi to answer for one of India’s largest financial scams.
