(Image source from: ANI)
A Belgian court granted approval on Friday for the return of runaway diamond dealer Mehul Choksi to India, according to sources. The Antwerp court decided that Choksi's detention by Belgian authorities, which followed a request from India, was legitimate. Choksi can contest this decision at the Belgian Supreme Court within 15 days. The court listened to the arguments from both parties - prosecutors from Belgium on behalf of India and Choksi's lawyers. Choksi was taken into custody by Antwerp police on April 11 and has been in jail for four months now. His various requests for bail have been turned down by the Belgian judiciary. India has accused the 66-year-old of fraud, conspiracy, tampering with evidence, and corruption based on sections of the Indian Penal Code. These charges can also be prosecuted under Belgian law, meeting the requirement for dual criminality.
India referenced global agreements such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption to back up its case. The Central Bureau of Investigation made three trips to Belgium to present proof and hired a European law firm for assistance. India guaranteed Belgian officials that once Choksi is extradited, he will be incarcerated in Barrack No. 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, which will have facilities on par with European standards, such as clean water, food, newspapers, television, and access to a personal doctor. He will not be kept in isolation. It also promised high security in his cell, which will include a clean cotton mat, pillow, bed sheet, and blanket. The cell will be cleaned daily, provided with fresh drinking water, and will allow outdoor exercise, relaxation areas, board games like chess and carrom, and badminton, as stated by the prison department.
India asserts that Choksi remains an Indian national, contesting his assertion of having Antiguan citizenship. Choksi informed the court that he renounced his Indian citizenship on December 14, 2018, and acquired Antiguan citizenship on November 16, 2017. India presented proof of bank frauds totaling Rs 13,000 crore occurring from 2018 to 2022. The court recognized that Choksi was a genuine flight risk, justifying his detention. The CBI found Choksi in Belgium in July 2024 and officially made an extradition request.
