Fugitive Mehul Choksi Traced to Belgium, India Initiates Extradition Process
New Delhi, March 23 – In a major development in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi has reportedly resurfaced in Antwerp, Belgium, where he is currently residing with his Belgian national wife, Preeti Choksi, on an “F residency card” granted in November 2023.
According to a report by Associates Times, Indian authorities have now reached out to their Belgian counterparts to initiate Choksi’s extradition, marking a new chapter in India’s ongoing pursuit of the diamantaire, who is accused of defrauding PNB of ₹13,850 crore.
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The F residency card allows third-country nationals to legally stay in Belgium and be accompanied by their spouses under specific conditions. Choksi reportedly used fabricated documents to acquire the card and may now be attempting to resist extradition by citing his legal status in Belgium.
Sources claim the 65-year-old is strategizing to convert his temporary residency into permanent status, which could grant him visa-free access across Europe, further complicating India’s legal route to bring him back.
Choksi is also said to be planning a move to Switzerland, reportedly to Hirslanden Klinik Aarau, a cancer treatment facility. If executed, he may try to seek asylum on medical or humanitarian grounds, potentially delaying or derailing extradition proceedings.
Until recently, Choksi was believed to be living in Antigua and Barbuda, where he held citizenship. Antigua’s Foreign Minister EP Chet Greene confirmed Choksi had left the country for medical treatment but remains an Antiguan citizen.
In 2021, Choksi went missing from Antigua under suspicious circumstances, sparking theories of an alleged abduction, which were later debunked when he was found in Dominica.
Back in India, Choksi told a special court in May 2024 that he cannot be branded a fugitive economic offender as his absence was due to reasons “beyond his control.” However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had already moved an application to declare him a fugitive and seize his assets.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Parliament in December 2024 that assets worth ₹22,280 crore had been recovered from high-profile fugitives, including Choksi.
Choksi’s nephew, Nirav Modi, also accused in the same PNB scam, remains in the UK, fighting extradition proceedings amidst a protracted legal battle in British courts.
Choksi’s sudden appearance in Europe has reignited the legal and diplomatic efforts by India to bring one of its most wanted fugitives to justice. The coming weeks could prove crucial in determining if India can overcome the European legal maze and successfully secure his return.
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