New Delhi: A Belgian court on Friday confirmed the arrest of fugitive diamond dealer Mehul Choksi by Belgian police on India’s request and approved his extradition for trial in the Rs 13,000-crore bank fraud case. This significant development came after Choksi’s arrest in Antwerp in April this year.Choksi, uncle of another well-known fugitive Nirav Modi, who is in jail in Britain, may appeal the order to a higher court in the next 15 days. Officials in India, however, expressed satisfaction with the development and said the Belgian court’s order marked an important step towards his return to India. Choksi was deemed a flight risk, was denied bail and placed in an Antwerp prison. Since his arrest is upheld, he will likely remain in prison until the Belgian judiciary decides on his repatriation in the Indian case.In early August, at least two Belgian courts rejected Choksi’s request for bail after Indian law enforcement authorities argued that Choksi was a habitual refugee and would likely flee to another country if granted bail. In addition to the two open arrest warrants against him, the CBI also provided Belgian prosecutors with details of his involvement in economic crimes in India and his escape from the US and Antigua in the past. The last extradition hearing took place in September.According to an Indian government filing, Choksi will be housed in Mumbai’s Arthur Road prison after his extradition, which is in line with European standards of prisoner management. He will be provided with all facilities including clean drinking water and adequate food as well as access to newspapers and television and medical treatment of his choice.The CBI’s Global Operations Center is monitoring developments in the case in direct coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies as well as Interpol channels. The company has also retained the services of a local law firm to bolster its case. Wanted for bank fraud worth more than ₹13,900 crore, Choksi fled India in January 2018. He went to the USA and Antigua, whose citizenship he had received a year earlier.
