Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium Amid Extradition Row
Choksi's arrest in Belgium marks a significant development in the long-running case, with Indian authorities hopeful of finally bringing him to justice. The extradition process is expected to be complex, with Choksi's lawyer planning to appeal against his detention and extradition on medical grounds.
Indian billionaire jeweller Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium after India requested his extradition in connection with the alleged $1.8 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case. Choksi, who has been living abroad since 2018, denies any wrongdoing and his lawyer vows to appeal against detention and extradition.
Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused of colluding with PNB employees to get fraudulent advances, which were then laundered. Choksi has been living in Antigua, where he holds citizenship, but was arrested by Belgian police on April 12, 2025, after Indian authorities requested his extradition. His lawyer plans to file an appeal against the arrest, citing Choksi's ill health and cancer treatment.
The Indian government has been seeking Choksi's extradition since 2018, and a team of officials is set to visit Belgium to facilitate the process. Choksi's arrest in Belgium comes after he was previously arrested in Dominica and deported back to Antigua in 2021. His nephew, Nirav Modi, remains in custody in Britain after losing an extradition appeal.
The next hearing in Choksi's case is expected to take place in a week, during which he will remain in jail. The extradition process is likely to be lengthy, with Choksi's lawyer planning to challenge it on medical grounds. The case has sparked widespread attention in India, with many calling for Choksi to be brought to justice for his alleged role in the PNB loan fraud case.