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On 12 April 2025, Belgium officials arrested Mehul Choksi after extradition request from India. His arrest is India’s success to bring back the use to face the case in relation to the PNB fraud case.
One of the biggest scams in the country, Mehul’s name was revealed in the 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. Mehul is accused of carrying out fraud transactions using a letter of undertaking to take a foreign loan with his nephew Nirav Modi.
CBI and ED reports have filed several allegations against them including criminal conspiracy, fraud, betrayal, corruption and money laundering.
Jewelery brand brought to America, Dubai
Mehul Choksi is an Indian -origin businessman and former owner of the Gitanjali Group, the business of one of the largest diamond jewelery in India. Gitanjali had more than 4 thousand stores across the country.
Fraud of 13 thousand crores in PNB bank
In 2018, Choksi along with her nephew Nirav Modi was implicated in a big fraud case of about ₹ 13,000 crore (~ $ 1.6 billion) from Punjab National Bank. The scam included the fraudulent letter of undertaking issued by bank officers to facilitate foreign loan. Choksi ran away from India before the scam was discovered.
Antigua and Dominica’s citizenship
In May 2021, Choksi disappeared from Antigua and was later reported to be in Dominica. Where he was arrested for an Eligel entry. He claimed that he was kidnapped by Indian agents, the claim is still under investigation. According to reports, Mehul is living with wife Preeti Choksi, who has received Belgian citizenship.
The Belgian Foreign Ministry had informed about the presence of Choksi. According to sources, Mehul Choksi was trying to flee Switzerland from Belgium.
Mehul Choksi with wife Preeti Choksi in Antigua.
Warrants extracted in 2018 and 2021
The police cited two arrest warrants while arresting Choksi. These were issued by a Mumbai court. The report said that the warrant was on 23 May 2018 and 15 June 2021. It is believed that Choksi may demand bail and immediate release, citing her ill health.
After his arrest in Belgium, Mehul Choksi has sought bail in the court citing his ill health. It has been said on his behalf that Belgium came to get treatment and was living in Antwerp with his wife.
Belgian citizenship took by deception
Choksi obtained the ‘F Residency Card’ of Belgium on 15 November 2023, allegedly received with the help of his Belgian civilian wife. The reports claimed that Choksi had handed over fake documents to Belgium officials. He hid his Indian and Antigua’s citizenship and gave false information so that he could not be sent to India.
Sometimes he was produced through video conferencing. Many of his properties have also been seized in India.
Mehul Choksi sitting on a wheelchair. The photo is from a magistrate court of Dominica on 4 June 2021.
According to ED sources, Choksi misled the Belgium government citing humanitarian base for medical condition and used fake and false documents to strengthen its evidence. According to sources, Mehul has not left citizenship of his Indian or Antigua, but still applied and acquired for the F Residency Card in Belgium.
When the officers came to know that Choksi is planning to upgrade his status to the F+ Residency Card, which would make it more difficult to extradite from Belgium, he quickly took steps to request his extradition. In response, Belgian officials prohibited the converting her F resident card into F+ status.
After a long attempt for extradition
In 2021, Mehul was arrested in the Republic of Dominican for illegal entry. A CBI team reached the Caribbean country. Mehul Choksi lawyers told the Dominican Court that he would have to return to Antigua for treatment and assured that he would come back.
After being in jail for 51 days, Choksi got relief from the British Queen’s Privy Council and could not proceed. India is demanding extradition of Choksi from Belgium under the Indo-Belgium extradition treaty. The process includes legal views including the health of Choksi and the specifics of the treaty between the two countries.
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