The mischief of the jeweler Meul Choksi was arrested by the Belgium authorities on Saturday, April 12, following a request from the Indian investigation agencies for the extradition of the Indian Investigation Agency for his involvement in more than £ 13,000 Crore Punjab National Bank (PNB). Mehul Choksi is likely to challenge his extradition to India on medical grounds. A request for extradition was moved by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the ‘second’ Prime Minister accused in the PNB scam case when the Diamondaire lives in Antwerp in 2024. Police cited two open-ended Warrante on May 23, 2018, and 15, 2021 against Mehul against Meul, as the basis of his arrest. He is currently being jailed. Mehul Choksi fled with its cousin Nirav Modi in January 2018 before the PNB scam came to light. He initially traveled to the United States, later emerged in Antigua and eventually ended up in Belgium when the Indian authorities pursued his extradition. He acquired the citizenship of Antigua in 2017. Reports also suggested that he plan a move to Geneva in Switzerland of Belgium. Mehul Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 and a complaint against him was filed weeks before in 2016. In 2018, the proceedings were to find the refugee start, and the extradition request was sent to the Antiguan authorities to credible information that he lives in the Caribbean nation. He then challenged the extradition request, citing poor prison conditions in India, claiming to be the target of a political conspiracy. In 2021 he disappeared from Antigua, but was later discovered in Dominica, another Caribbean island nation. He was traced to a ‘yellow’ notice by the Interpol. The CBI was then notified of its location. A CBI team also left for Dominica to get him back in India, but a Supreme Court of the country sent him to Antigua. In February 2025, a court in Mumbai was notified that Mehul was Choxi in Belgium for medical treatment of suspected blood cancer. Two weeks ago, Mehul Choxi and his wife, Preeti, acquired F-residency cards in Belgium. Preeti, a Belgian citizen, has family ties in the country, just like Choksi’s extended family. These further complicated cases for India, as not Belgium nor India is obliged to extradite its own citizens. In addition, extradition would only be possible if the alleged offenses were recognized as crimes under the laws of both countries, according to the extradition treaty between the two countries. The right of residence also gives Meul Choksi the freedom to travel between European countries. “I did not flee from India”: Meul Choksi In May 2024, Mehul Choksi told a special court that he had not fled in India to “avoid criminal prosecution” in the PNB scam, nor did he refuse to return to the country while arguing that he could not be declared a volatile economic offender. The reason he gave was that his passport was suspended by the Indian authorities, which made it impossible for him to return, and it was “reasons beyond his control”. ‘This is the specific case of the current applicant [Mehul Choksi] That he did not leave India to avoid criminal prosecution, and he refused to return to India to face criminal prosecution but could not return for reasons beyond his control, “she pleaded to the special PMLA court.
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