New Delhi / Brussels: April 15, 2025: Indian authorities have intensified their efforts to bring escaped diamond trader Mehul Choksi back to India, following his arrest in Belgium on April 12. A joint team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is preparing to travel to Belgium to advance the extradition process.
According to sources, high-level meetings were held within the CBI and ED after Choksi’s arrest. Senior officials from both agencies have finalized plans to send a team consisting of two to three members from each agency, along with legal advisors. This team will collaborate with the Belgian government and submit important documentation to expedite the extradition process.
Mehul Choksi, who had been living in Belgium since 2023, reportedly accompanied by his wife who holds Belgian citizenship, was arrested after India’s extradition request. However, the road ahead for his return to India remains complex.
Choksi’s lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, stated that legal action against the arrest has already been initiated. An appeal is being prepared on medical grounds, citing Choksi’s ongoing cancer treatment. Aggarwal emphasized that due to his health, Choksi poses no flight risk. “The arrest is part of the legal process in any country,” he stated.
Despite submitting an extradition request six months ago, Indian authorities acknowledge the legal hurdles ahead. Choksi previously succeeded in getting the Red Corner Notice against him dismissed by Interpol. He also claimed that Indian officials attempted to abduct him from Antigua, where he holds citizenship. These factors could complicate India’s case in Belgian courts.
The Sanjay Bhandari case is also likely to influence the proceedings. In that instance, the UK courts denied India’s extradition request on human rights grounds, citing the condition of Indian prisons. Choksi’s legal team is expected to draw parallels to strengthen their defense.
Indian agencies, however, are preparing a comprehensive case. The CBI-ED team will carry extensive documentation including files related to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, records of Choksi’s communications with Nirav Modi, and evidence of financial fraud. Officials are reportedly leaving no legal loophole for Choksi to exploit.
The Belgian court’s response and assessment of India’s prison conditions would determine whether Mehul Choksi will finally be extradited to face trial in India.
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