India has requested extradition of fugitive Mehul Choksi, confirms Belgium
Mehul Choksi, the key accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam worth ₹13,500 crore, has been arrested in Belgium and the Indian government has requested his extradition. The news was confirmed by Belgium’s Federal Public Service of Justice, stating that Choksi is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings.
The development comes as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to bring the fugitive businessman to justice. Choksi, who is believed to have fled India after the scam came to light, has been evading authorities for several years.
The PNB scam, which was discovered in 2018, involved the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs) and foreign letters of credit (FLCs) to facilitate the export of goods to Hong Kong and other countries. The scam is estimated to have caused a loss of over ₹13,500 crore to the bank and its customers.
Choksi, who was a director at Gitanjali Gems, a company that was allegedly involved in the scam, has been accused of being a key player in the conspiracy. He had been on the run since the scam came to light and was believed to have fled to the Caribbean island nation of Antigua, where he had obtained citizenship.
However, Choksi’s whereabouts were recently discovered in Belgium, where he was arrested on Saturday. The Indian government had launched a massive diplomatic effort to secure his extradition, and the confirmation of the extradition request is a significant victory for the authorities.
According to reports, Choksi was arrested at a hospital in Antwerp, Belgium, where he was undergoing treatment for a medical condition. He was taken into custody by the Belgian authorities and is currently being detained at a local prison.
In a statement, the Federal Public Service of Justice confirmed that Choksi is being held in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. The statement also assured that access to his legal counsel has been provided, ensuring that he has the necessary legal representation to defend himself against the extradition request.
The extradition process is expected to be lengthy and complex, involving several legal and diplomatic hurdles. However, the confirmation of the extradition request is a significant step forward in the efforts to bring Choksi to justice.
The PNB scam was one of the largest banking frauds in Indian history, and the extradition of Choksi is expected to have significant implications for the country’s financial sector. The scam had also led to a significant loss of public trust in the banking system, and the successful extradition of Choksi is expected to help restore confidence in the system.
The Indian government has been working closely with the Belgian authorities to secure Choksi’s extradition, and the confirmation of the request is a testament to the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. The move is also expected to send a strong message to other fugitive economic offenders who may be attempting to evade justice by fleeing to foreign countries.
As the extradition process unfolds, it remains to be seen how Choksi’s legal team will challenge the request. However, the confirmation of the extradition request is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to bring the fugitive businessman to justice.
