In a decisive legal victory for Indian authorities, Belgium's highest judicial body, the Court of Cassation (Supreme Court), has rejected the final appeal filed by fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi against his extradition to India. This ruling clears the path for the long-awaited return of the key accused in the over ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.
The Court of Cassation's decision, announced on Tuesday, upholds an earlier ruling by the Antwerp Court of Appeal, effectively ending Choksi's legal challenges within the Belgian judicial system.
Key Details of the Ruling
- Final Legal Hurdle Cleared: The Court of Cassation is Belgium's supreme court and its function is primarily to check the decisions of the lower courts on legal aspects, ensuring the correct application of law and procedure. By rejecting Choksi's appeal, it found no legal infirmity in the appellate court's decision, making the extradition order now fully "enforceable."
- Upholding Lower Court Order: The ruling sustains the October 17, 2025 decision of the Antwerp Court of Appeal. That court had upheld India's extradition request, affirming that the alleged offences—including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery—are crimes under both Indian and Belgian law, satisfying the principle of dual criminality.
- Claims of Unfair Treatment Dismissed: Both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court rejected Choksi's primary defense claims, which alleged that he faced a genuine risk of torture, inhuman treatment, or denial of a fair trial if sent to India.
- Indian Assurances Accepted: The Belgian courts accepted the detailed assurances provided by the Indian government regarding Choksi's safety, medical care, and detention conditions. Specifically, officials confirmed that he would be lodged in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail, a facility equipped with private sanitary amenities, and remain under strict judicial supervision.
- Extradition Process to Begin: Spokespersons for the Court of Cassation confirmed that since the appeal has been dismissed, the process for Choksi's physical extradition to India will now begin, subject to necessary administrative formalities.
Background on the Case
Mehul Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi (currently jailed in London, also fighting extradition), are the main accused in the massive PNB fraud, which came to light in early 2018. Choksi, who fled India just days before the scam was detected, had initially taken citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda. He was arrested in Antwerp, Belgium, on April 11, 2025, following an extradition request sent by India based on arrest warrants issued by a special court in Mumbai.
This latest ruling marks a significant breakthrough for India's investigative agencies—the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED)—in their concerted effort to bring major economic offenders who fled the country back to face trial.
