Mehul Choksi Was Planning Swiss Escape Before Being Nabbed In Belgium

Fugitive diamond tycoon Mehul Choksi, wanted in India in connection with the ₹13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, was arrested by Belgian police over the weekend.

His detention came just as he was reportedly preparing to flee to Switzerland under the pretext of seeking medical treatment. The arrest represents a major breakthrough in India's determined seven-year hunt spanning three countries.

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Choksi, the founder of the Gitanjali Group and a key figure in one of India's most significant banking scandals, absconded from India in 2018 along with his nephew Nirav Modi, wife Ami Modi, and brother Neeshal Modi.

He later acquired Antiguan citizenship through an investment route, further complicating extradition efforts.

His capture in Belgium followed a covert operation by Indian agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), who had been tracing his global movements.

Belgian authorities acted promptly on intelligence shared by Indian officials after it was discovered that Choksi was planning to travel to Switzerland for cancer treatment at the Hirslanden Klinik Aarau, according to sources cited by India Today.

Choksi had obtained an F residency card in Belgium in November last year by allegedly using forged documents, with the involvement of his wife Preeti Choksi, a Belgian national. He reportedly claimed humanitarian reasons and critical health concerns to secure the permit, concealing the fact that he holds dual nationality - both Indian and Antiguan.

When Indian authorities learned that he had applied to upgrade to an F+ residency card - a move that would have made extradition significantly more difficult - they swiftly informed their Belgian counterparts. This prompted the Belgian authorities to suspend the upgrade process and arrest Choksi in Antwerp, acting on two non-bailable arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai court in 2018 and 2021.

Choksi is currently being held in a Belgian prison, with a bail hearing expected within the week. His lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, confirmed the arrest and said the legal team would be filing for an appeal. "We will begin the process of challenging this and will request that he be released from custody," said Aggarwal, citing Choksi's ill health and cancer treatment as grounds for bail.

Choksi's Legal History

This is not Choksi's first encounter with international law enforcement. In 2021, he was apprehended in the Dominican Republic for illegal entry, setting off a series of legal confrontations.

Although a CBI team travelled there to secure his extradition, his lawyers successfully argued for his return to Antigua for medical treatment. The British Queen's Privy Council later ruled in his favour, allowing his repatriation to Antigua after 51 days in custody.

Despite several setbacks, Indian authorities remained resolute. Upon learning of his presence in Belgium last year, they alerted the local authorities and submitted a comprehensive dossier outlining his alleged involvement in the PNB scam.

Belgian officials responded swiftly, arresting Choksi and thwarting what could have been another escape - this time to Switzerland.

Choksi had previously offered to cooperate with Indian authorities via video conference, citing poor health and inability to travel, but the proposal was declined. His latest arrest may mark a turning point in India's efforts to bring him back to stand trial.

The CBI and ED are now preparing to begin formal extradition proceedings in Belgium.