Belgium Confirms Presence Of Fugitive Diamantaire Mehul Choksi, Monitors Case Closely; India Seeks Extradition

Days after fugitive Indian diamantaire Mehul Choksi surfaced in Belgium, the Belgian government on Wednesday confirmed his presence in the European nation while asserting that they are giving the matter "great importance and attention", as per media reports.

On March 23, reports said that the businessman was seen in Belgium and is said to be living there with his wife, Preeti Choksi, after securing a residency card.

Citing David Jordens, spokesperson and head of service for social media and press at Belgium's Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs, ANI reported that the Belgian government is closely monitoring the case.

"I can confirm that the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs is aware of this case and attaches great importance and attention to it. However, we do not comment on individual cases. Furthermore, this case falls under the competence of the Federal Public Service Justice," ANI quoted Jordens as saying.

Meanwhile, Indian officials have requested the Belgian authorities to initiate his extradition to India, according to news agency Associated Press. However, there has been no official confirmation of the same by New Delhi

Mehul Choksi And The PNB Scam

Mehul Choksi is an Indian businessman and owner of the Gitanjali Group. The businessman and his nephew, Nirav Modi, are wanted by Indian authorities for their alleged involvement in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, in which they are accused of defrauding the bank of over Rs 14,000 crore.

After the scam surfaced, Choksi, Modi and their family members and aides were booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2018. That same year, Mehul Choksi fled India.

India Seeks Choksi's Extradition

As reported by the Associated Times, a Caribbean-focused outlet, Indian authorities have called on Belgian authorities to initiate Choksi's extradition to India. The same is yet to be confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs.

As per the Associated Times, Choksi secured an "F Residency Card" in Belgium in November 2023. The report further adds that Choksi's allegedly fabricated his documents to Belgian authorities to misrepresent his nationality during the application process.