Choksi, linked to a major financial scandal in India, has spent years evading justice while claiming health issues.
**Fugitive Diamond Dealer Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium**
**Fugitive Diamond Dealer Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium**
Mehul Choksi, wanted for a $1.8 billion bank fraud, was apprehended by Belgian authorities amid calls for his extradition back to India.
Mehul Choksi, a former diamond dealer who has been a fugitive for several years, was arrested in Antwerp, Belgium, authorities confirmed. The arrest comes as India seeks his extradition related to a significant $1.8 billion fraud case linked to the state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) that became a national scandal upon its revelation in 2018.
The 65-year-old businessman fled India shortly before the fraud allegations surfaced, subsequently residing in various Caribbean nations before his apprehension last weekend. Belgian police acted following a request from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has been pursuing Choksi to stand trial.
Choksi's legal representative, Vijay Aggarwal, announced plans to contest the extradition, citing his client's precarious health condition as a reason for immediate release. He insists that Choksi poses no flight risk, noting ongoing cancer treatments.
Connected to the same scandal, Choksi’s nephew, Nirav Modi, remains in custody in London while facing similar charges but has opposed Indian extradition efforts. Both cases have raised alarms in India about the influence of elite individuals on public banking institutions and have maintained substantial interest from the public and media alike.
Choksi's arrest may reopen discussions on accountability in financial governance as the country grapples with the implications of high-profile fraud cases and their impact on the banking sector.
The 65-year-old businessman fled India shortly before the fraud allegations surfaced, subsequently residing in various Caribbean nations before his apprehension last weekend. Belgian police acted following a request from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has been pursuing Choksi to stand trial.
Choksi's legal representative, Vijay Aggarwal, announced plans to contest the extradition, citing his client's precarious health condition as a reason for immediate release. He insists that Choksi poses no flight risk, noting ongoing cancer treatments.
Connected to the same scandal, Choksi’s nephew, Nirav Modi, remains in custody in London while facing similar charges but has opposed Indian extradition efforts. Both cases have raised alarms in India about the influence of elite individuals on public banking institutions and have maintained substantial interest from the public and media alike.
Choksi's arrest may reopen discussions on accountability in financial governance as the country grapples with the implications of high-profile fraud cases and their impact on the banking sector.
