New Delhi: Belgium’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, has dismissed Mehul Choksi’s appeal challenging India’s extradition request in connection with the Rs 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. The ruling reinforces the earlier decision of the Antwerp Court of Appeal, which had deemed India’s extradition request enforceable.
Choksi, the fugitive diamond trader, fled India in January 2018, shortly before the massive scam came to light, and was later spotted in Belgium seeking treatment. India had formally requested his extradition on August 27, 2024, citing arrest warrants issued by a special court in Mumbai in 2018 and 2021.
The Antwerp Court of Appeal had rejected Choksi’s claims that he faced a genuine risk of unfair trial, torture, or inhumane treatment if returned to India. It found no legal or factual basis to support his arguments, noting that India had provided assurances regarding his safety, trial procedures, prison arrangements, medical care, and human rights protections.
The Court of Cassation’s role is limited to examining legal and procedural aspects of cases, and it cannot consider new evidence or facts. The court confirmed that Choksi’s appeal failed on legal grounds, leaving the lower court’s ruling intact.
Authorities allege that Choksi personally siphoned off Rs 6,400 crore of the total scam amount. The Antwerp District Court’s pre-trial chamber had earlier declared the Mumbai-issued arrest warrants enforceable, apart from one order related to the disappearance of evidence. Subsequent appeals by Choksi were consistently rejected for lack of credible proof of imminent danger or political persecution.
With the supreme court’s decision, India’s efforts to secure Choksi’s extradition gain significant momentum. Legal experts say the ruling represents a strong validation of India’s case and underscores international cooperation in pursuing fugitives involved in large-scale financial crimes.
The development brings Choksi a step closer to facing trial in India, where he remains the primary accused in one of the country’s largest banking fraud cases.
