Mehul Choksi One Step Closer To Extradition: Belgian Court Reviews Evidence In ₹13,000-Crore PNB Fraud Case

ANTWERP / NEW DELHI — The legal walls are closing in on fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi. On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, a Belgian court in Antwerp held a critical two-hour hearing to discuss the robust evidence presented by Indian investigators and the counter-arguments from Choksi’s defense team.

This hearing follows a string of legal defeats for the 65-year-old diamond trader, who has been in an Antwerp prison since his arrest on April 11, 2025. Indian authorities hope this will be the final judicial hurdle before Choksi is repatriated to face charges in the massive Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.

1. The Hearing: Judicial Review & Final Say

The proceedings, which lasted from 2 pm to 4 pm (Belgium time), focused on the merits of India’s extradition request.

• The Process: The court’s findings will now be forwarded to Belgium’s Ministry of Security and Interior. While the court reviews the legal and evidentiary grounds, the Interior Ministry holds the executive power to approve or deny the extradition.
• Timeline: Officials suggest the Ministry may take at least a month to deliver a final decision.
• Indian Confidence: An anonymous official stated that the evidence is “robust,” noting that all previous appeals by Choksi in Belgian courts—including challenges to his arrest—have been rejected.

2. Supreme Court Rejection of “Political Trial” Claims

In December 2025, Belgium’s Supreme Court delivered a major blow to Choksi by rejecting his appeal against his detention.

• Abduction Claims Dismissed: The court ruled that Choksi’s claims—that he was abducted from Antigua and Barbuda in 2021 at India’s behest and faced a risk of torture—were not factual.
• Dual Criminality: The extradition is sought for bank frauds involving approximately ₹13,000 crore between 2018 and 2022. The charges meet the “dual criminality” requirement, as the alleged crimes (cheating, corruption, and fraud) are punishable in both India and Belgium.+1

3. Assurances for Arthur Road Jail

To satisfy European human rights standards, India has provided detailed assurances regarding Choksi’s detention:

• Location: He is slated to be held in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail.
• Facilities: India has guaranteed private sanitary facilities, adequate medical care, and daily exercise, ensuring no risk of “inhuman or degrading treatment.”

Extradition Snapshot: Mehul Choksi (March 2026)