PNB bank scam: Belgium court rejects Mehul Choksi's appeal; extradition process to India 'to begin soon'

NEW DELHI: Belgium’s Supreme Court has turned down Mehul Choksi’s appeal against his extradition to India. Court officials said that the order from the Antwerp Court of Appeal, which had cleared the way for his extradition, will now stand.Spokesperson for Court of Cassation, Advocaat-general Henri Vanderlinden, told PTI, "The Court of Cassation rejected the appeal. So, the decision of the Court of Appeal stands. The process of his extradition will begin now," officials said. Choksi had gone to the Court of Cassation on 30 October, hoping to overturn the appellate court’s decision issued on 17 October. After reviewing the matter, it dismissed his challenge. This also ends the temporary pause on the extradition order.Earlier, the Antwerp Court of Appeal had agreed to India’s request to extradite Choksi in the Punjab National Bank fraud case. It said the charges against him, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, embezzlement and forgery, are crimes under both Indian and Belgian law. The court also said there was no evidence to support Choksi’s claims that the case was politically motivated or that he had been forcibly taken from Antigua.Indian officials had submitted details about his medical care and conditions in custody. The court noted that he would be kept in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, which has private sanitary facilities, and that his movement would be allowed only for medical needs or court hearings. It said there was nothing to suggest he would face mistreatment or an unfair trial.Choksi was arrested in Antwerp on 11 April 2025 after India formally requested his extradition. He and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused in the alleged Rs 13,000-crore PNB fraud.