A joint team from the ED and CBI will soon travel to Belgium regarding Mehul Choksi's extradition. The team will include legal advisors. The names of the officers have been finalized.
Mehul Choksi Extradition News 2025: India has accelerated efforts to bring Mehul Choksi back to the country. A joint team from the CBI and ED will soon depart for Belgium to handle legal documentation and coordination; however, the path to extradition remains challenging.
New Delhi/Brussels – Efforts to bring Mehul Choksi, the prime accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and a fugitive diamond merchant, back to India have intensified. The Indian government has decided to send a joint team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to Belgium. This team, along with legal advisors, will advance the extradition process and coordinate with the Belgian government.
ED and CBI Preparations: Legal Documentation
According to sources, several rounds of meetings have been held between senior officials of the CBI and ED following Choksi's arrest in Belgium. The team, comprising 2-3 senior officers, will prepare the necessary legal documentation and solidify the extradition process with the Belgian government.
Choksi Preparing to Appeal Arrest
Meanwhile, Mehul Choksi's lawyer, Vijay Agarwal, has confirmed that they have initiated the process of filing an appeal against the arrest in a Belgian court. He claims Choksi is in Belgium for cancer treatment and is "not a flight risk." A bail application on medical grounds will also be sought.
Numerous Hurdles in the Extradtion Process
While the arrest is a significant step, extradition remains legally complex. Choksi has already had the Interpol Red Corner Notice against him removed. Furthermore, he has alleged that Indian agencies attempted to kidnap him from Antigua. Choksi still holds Antiguan citizenship, and his wife is a Belgian citizen.
India Must Present a Strong Case
The Indian government must present a compelling case this time, balancing b evidence with humanitarian considerations. The Sanjay Bhandari case serves as a recent example, where a London court ruled in Bhandari's favor citing the conditions of Indian prisons and human rights concerns. Choksi's lawyers are now preparing to make a similar argument, suggesting that Indian prisons could hinder extradition.
Choksi in Belgium Since 2023
Belgian police arrested Mehul Choksi on April 12, 2025, based on an extradition request from Indian agencies. He had been residing in Belgium since 2023, and his wife's Belgian citizenship may offer him some legal recourse.
