Mehul Choksi Tried to Flee to Switzerland Before Arrest in Belgium: 7-Year Manhunt Finally Pays Off

Accused in the ₹12,636 crore PNB scam, Mehul Choksi was tracked down in Belgium while attempting to escape to Switzerland using fake documents. Indian agencies now push for his extradition.

April 14, 2025: Fugitive diamond tycoon Mehul Choksi, wanted in the ₹12,636 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, was arrested in Belgium while allegedly trying to flee to Switzerland. The dramatic arrest marks a major breakthrough for Indian investigative agencies after a seven-year international pursuit across Antigua, the Dominican Republic, and Europe.

Also Read:Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium: India Closer to Justice in ₹13,850 Crore PNB Scam

Choksi, 65, fled India in 2018 just before the scam was exposed. He acquired Antiguan citizenship and evaded arrest for years, using legal loopholes, health claims, and diplomatic delays.

Timeline of the Hunt:

• 2018: Choksi fled to Antigua after obtaining citizenship via an investment programme.
• 2021: Arrested in Dominican Republic for illegal entry, but extradition failed after UK’s Privy Council intervened.
• 2024: Indian agencies tracked him to Belgium, where he was found staying under a false identity and attempting to secure residency using forged documents.
• April 2025: Belgian police arrested Choksi, who was allegedly preparing to escape to Switzerland.

Choksi’s Legal Tricks

Also Read: Fugitive Mehul Choksi Traced to Belgium, India Initiates Extradition Process

While in the Dominican Republic, Choksi’s legal team argued for his return to Antigua for “medical reasons”, derailing India’s extradition attempt. Earlier this year, his lawyers claimed he was undergoing blood cancer treatment in Belgium and couldn’t travel to India. He even offered to appear via video conferencing, but Indian authorities rejected the offer.

What’s Next?

India has formally requested his extradition from Belgium. Choksi’s legal team is now planning to seek relief on health grounds once again.

Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, his wife Ami Modi, and brother Neeshal Modi, is accused of orchestrating one of India’s biggest banking frauds using fake letters of undertaking from PNB’s Brady House branch. Nirav Modi remains jailed in the UK, fighting extradition.

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