A court in Antwerp, Belgium, has approved the arrest of fugitive Indian diamantaire Mehul Choksi, responding to India’s extradition request. This judgment opens the way for him to be sent back to India. The Belgian court found that his detention by Belgian police was lawful. Choksi has a window of 15 days to challenge—or appeal—this decision.

Choksi was taken into custody by Antwerp police on 11th April, 2025. Since then, he has remained in Belgian custody for approximately six months. His multiple efforts to secure bail had earlier been denied by Belgian courts; in August of this year, bail pleas were refused after Indian law enforcement agencies presented arguments that he has a history of trying to flee and, if released, would likely take advantage of that.

To strengthen its case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made three journeys to Belgium to supply evidence. It also engaged a European private law firm to assist in the legal process. In courts, the Indian agency let Belgian judges know about Choksi’s alleged role in financial crimes in India and two outstanding arrest warrants. It further detailed how he had evaded law enforcement in the United States and Antigua in earlier instances.

At 66 years old, Choksi is accused of serious offences: fraud, conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and corruption under Indian Penal Code Sections 120B, 201, 409, 420, and 477A. In addition, he faces charges under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Belgium also recognises these acts as criminal under its own legal system, fulfilling the principle of dual criminality—meaning a person may be extradited only if the alleged offence is punishable in both nations.

India has pressed for his return by invoking major international treaties, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). To reassure Belgium, India has stated that Choksi, if extradited, would be held in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, with conditions meeting European standards. He would receive amenities like clean water, food, newspapers, television, and access to a private doctor.

In a formal letter to Belgian authorities dated 4th September, Joint Secretary Rakesh Kumar Pandey declared:

“The Centre, on the basis of a report from the Maharashtra government, assures that Choksi will be held at Barrack No. 12, Arthur Road jail complex. It is also assured that he will be kept in a cell in which he will get a minimum of three square meters of personal space (not including furniture) throughout the period of his prospective detention (pre-trial and post-conviction) in case he is found guilty.”

Pandey further guaranteed that Choksi would not be held in solitary confinement. His cell would have high-level security and basic comforts including a clean, thick cotton mat, pillow, bed sheet, and blanket. Daily cleaning, a fresh supply of drinking water, outdoor exercise access, rest areas, and indoor amusements—such as chess, carrom, and badminton—would also be allowed.

The Indian government continues to challenge Choksi’s claim of Antiguan citizenship, insisting he remains an Indian citizen. Choksi had previously stated he renounced Indian citizenship on 14 December 2018, having obtained Antiguan nationality on 16 November 2017.

His alleged crimes are steep. Choksi is accused of orchestrating bank frauds amounting to over ₹13,000 crore between 2011 and 2017 before fleeing India in January 2018. The CBI eventually located him in Belgium in July 2024, and submitted the extradition request shortly after.

This ruling in Antwerp marks a significant moment in India’s long pursuit of Choksi’s return to face justice.

The Man Behind the Scandal

At the centre of this global legal storm stands Mehul Choksi, a 66-year-old businessman who once ruled India’s jewellery industry. He was the former chairman of the Gitanjali Group, one of the country’s largest jewellery retail chains. Born on May 5, 1959, in Mumbai, Choksi began his career in his father’s diamond business and built it into a vast empire over the decades. He is also the maternal uncle of Nirav Modi, another high-profile fugitive whose name is tied to one of India’s largest banking frauds. Together, their family and business partnership became the foundation of a scam that shook the very core of India’s banking system.

The Punjab National Bank Fraud

The Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam is among India’s most significant financial crimes. Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi are accused of cheating the bank of over ₹14,000 crore by illegally obtaining loans from foreign banks. They allegedly achieved this through forged Letters of Undertaking (LoUs)—a form of bank guarantee used for securing credit. This massive financial manipulation came to light in early 2018, leading to one of India’s biggest banking investigations. Just before the scandal broke, Choksi fled India in January 2018, marking the collapse of his once-thriving jewellery empire.

The Family Connection with Nirav Modi

Choksi’s relationship with Nirav Modi goes beyond business—they are family. Modi is Choksi’s nephew, and together, they once dominated India’s diamond and luxury jewellery markets. While Choksi’s Gitanjali Group catered to the mass market, Nirav Modi’s brand targeted high-end buyers. Investigators later revealed that both men used similar tactics to defraud banks through their companies and are co-accused in the PNB fraud case. Despite taking different paths after escaping India—Nirav Modi remains in custody in London fighting extradition, while Choksi faces proceedings in Belgium—their fates remain connected under the same criminal investigation.

The Rise and Fall of Gitanjali Group

Before the scandal, Choksi’s Gitanjali Group was a household name in India. Under his leadership, it operated more than 4,000 jewellery stores across the country and introduced some of India’s most trusted brands. These included Nakshatra, D’damas, Gili, Asmi, and Vivaha Gold—names that once symbolized elegance and trust. However, after the exposure of the fraud, these brands were either shut down or seized by authorities, marking the end of an era for the glittering empire Choksi once commanded.

From Mumbai to Antigua to Belgium

After fleeing India in 2018, Mehul Choksi first travelled to the United States, then settled in Antigua and Barbuda, where he had obtained citizenship in 2017. For years, he tried to use his Antiguan passport to avoid Indian jurisdiction. However, his freedom ended in April 2025, when Belgian police arrested him in Antwerp after India’s formal extradition request. Although Choksi has 15 days to appeal, he remains lodged in a Belgian correctional facility as the extradition process continues. The Belgian court recently upheld his arrest, giving India a significant legal advantage in bringing him back to face trial.

The Family Under Scrutiny

The controversy has not spared Choksi’s family. His wife, Priti Choksi, has been named as a co-accused for allegedly helping in money laundering activities connected to the scam. She continues to reside in Antigua and Barbuda, the country where the family had sought refuge. Together, the couple has one son and two daughters, all of whom have maintained a low profile since the scandal erupted.

The Collapse of a Fortune

At the height of his career, Mehul Choksi’s net worth was estimated at a staggering ₹20,000 crore. But after the fraud surfaced, most of his wealth vanished. Indian authorities have since seized and attached assets worth over ₹2,565 crore linked to him and his companies. What was once a vast global empire has now dwindled to frozen accounts, confiscated jewellery, and closed stores—a sharp downfall for a man who once defined luxury in India’s jewellery industry.