The Antwerp Court of Appeal in Belgium approved the extradition of fugitive diamond businessman Mehul Choksi to India in connection with the Rs. 13,850 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, dismissing all his arguments of political persecution, abduction, and risk of unfair trial. The Court held that there exists “no legal barrier” to his extradition and that the charges against him are “serious enough to justify it”.

The Court observed that the offences cited by India, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, document falsification, and corruption, are punishable under both Indian and Belgian laws. It was clarified that Choksi’s nationality is irrelevant for the purpose of extradition, as he holds no Belgian citizenship.

The Court also noted that India had provided comprehensive assurances regarding Choksi’s safety, medical care, and detention conditions. Choksi would be lodged in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, a 46-square-metre unit with two cells and private sanitation facilities, ensuring compliance with international human rights standards.

Choksi, who fled India in 2018 and was arrested in Antwerp in April 2025, now has 15 days to appeal the ruling before Belgium’s Supreme Court. If the appeal is dismissed, Belgian authorities will proceed with his physical extradition to India, where he faces prosecution by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED).