A Major Win in India’s Global Crackdown on Economic Fugitives
The dramatic legal saga surrounding Mehul Choksi — once a glittering name in India’s luxury jewellery industry — has taken a decisive turn in Europe. The Antwerp Court of Appeal in Belgium has dismissed Choksi’s objections to his extradition to India, marking what could become a defining moment in New Delhi’s international pursuit of economic offenders.
This ruling follows years of courtroom battles, diplomatic exchanges, and high-stakes political wrangling. Only days before the verdict, Indian authorities had pressed for stronger enforcement of bilateral extradition treaties, urging global partners to cooperate in repatriating economic fugitives. The Belgian court’s stand now adds a major boost to India’s case for accountability across borders.
From Billionaire Jeweller to International Fugitive
Mehul Choksi’s story traces a dramatic arc — from celebrated entrepreneur to one of India’s most wanted men. As the former chairman of the Gitanjali Group, Choksi once helmed one of the country’s largest jewellery retail networks. But in 2018, his empire imploded when investigators uncovered the ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, orchestrated in collusion with his nephew, Nirav Modi.
The fraud — centred on fraudulent Letters of Undertaking used to secure overseas credit — triggered shockwaves through India’s banking sector. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) soon charged Choksi with conspiracy, forgery, and money laundering. But before the law could catch up, he fled India, securing citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda under an investor program.
Since then, India’s pursuit of Choksi has spanned multiple jurisdictions. His temporary detention in Dominica in 2021 — amid allegations of kidnapping and illegal entry — further complicated the extradition trail, leaving his return mired in legal and diplomatic obstacles.
The Belgian Breakthrough: Arrest and Courtroom Drama
In April 2025, Choksi’s global run finally faltered when Belgian authorities detained him in Antwerp, acting on a formal extradition request under the India–Belgium Extradition Treaty of 2020. This updated treaty, replacing a colonial-era pact from 1901, obligates both countries to cooperate in serious criminal cases recognized by their respective laws.
Since his arrest, Choksi’s repeated bids for bail have been denied, with the Belgian prosecution citing him as an “extreme flight risk.” Indian agencies provided detailed evidence mapping illicit financial networks, shell entities, and digital trails that tied him directly to the PNB scam. Investigators also submitted proof of his previous attempts to obstruct justice through falsified medical reports and evasive legal tactics.
Court Rejects “Political Persecution” Claim
On October 17, 2025, the Antwerp Court of Appeal delivered a landmark verdict, rejecting Choksi’s plea that extradition to India would violate Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. He had argued that he faced political persecution and risked unfair trial conditions.
The court, however, found his fears “speculative and unsubstantiated.” It accepted India’s assurances of due process and humane treatment — noting that Choksi would be housed in a designated facility at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, compliant with European standards.
Crucially, the court also confirmed that the offences charged — cheating, criminal conspiracy, forgery, and corruption — are extraditable under Belgian law, each carrying penalties of more than one year’s imprisonment. The ruling dismantled Choksi’s legal defence, calling his arguments “irrelevant to the merits of the case.”
A Broader Message: Global Justice, Indian Resolve
Beyond its immediate legal impact, the Belgian verdict underscores India’s growing diplomatic clout in the pursuit of economic fugitives. By upholding India’s request, Brussels has effectively endorsed the credibility of Indian judicial institutions and reinforced the country’s Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (2018) as a credible deterrent.
If upheld by Belgium’s Supreme Court after Choksi’s expected appeal, the ruling could serve as a precedent for future cross-border financial prosecutions, dismantling the oft-used “political bias” argument invoked by fugitives like Choksi and Nirav Modi.
Toward Accountability Without Borders
The Belgian court’s verdict may prove to be a watershed in India’s decades-long fight against financial crime. It sends a resounding message: no haven is safe for economic offenders. As India strengthens its extradition framework and deepens international cooperation, the era of safe exile for white-collar fugitives appears to be nearing its end.
For Mehul Choksi, the ruling closes one of his last legal escape routes. For India, it reaffirms a moral and judicial victory — one that restores faith in the principle that justice, though delayed and global in scope, can still find its way home.
(With agency inputs)
