**Fugitive Diamond Trader Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium**
Mehul Choksi, the fugitive diamond trader wanted in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, has been arrested by Belgian authorities, as confirmed by his lawyer on Monday. This arrest occurred just as Choksi was preparing to escape to Switzerland for medical treatment.
Choksi is implicated in a staggering ₹12,636 crore fraud involving the state-run Punjab National Bank, alongside his nephew Nirav Modi, his wife Ami Modi, and his brother Neeshal Modi. In 2018, he fled India and acquired citizenship in Antigua.
Operating from Antigua through a citizenship-by-investment program, Choksi managed to obtain an F residency card from Belgium on November 15 of the previous year, using documents belonging to his wife, Preeti Choksi, a Belgian national. According to sources from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Choksi allegedly misled the Belgian government by claiming humanitarian grounds for medical treatment, supported by forged documents. Notably, he has not renounced his Indian or Antiguan citizenship but still applied for and received the F residency card from Belgian authorities.
As Indian authorities became aware of Choksi’s intentions to upgrade his residency status to an F+ card—making extradition more challenging—they swiftly requested his extradition. In response, Belgian authorities halted the conversion of his F residency card to F+ status.
Choksi had sought cancer treatment at Hirslanden Klinik Aarau, a specialized facility in Switzerland, and was close to securing admission. However, before he could depart Belgium, he was taken into provisional custody by authorities in Antwerp. He had also applied for urgent medical treatment in Switzerland, again citing health concerns and humanitarian grounds.
His arrest is based on two non-bailable warrants issued by a Mumbai court in 2018 and 2021. Following his arrest, his lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, stated, “My client, Mehul Choksi, has been arrested in Belgium and is currently in custody. We will initiate the process of filing an appeal against this, requesting his release from prison on the grounds of his ill health and ongoing cancer treatment.”
Choksi is presently detained in a Belgian jail, with a hearing for his bail application scheduled for at least a week from now. During this time, he will remain in custody.
**FAQ**
**What charges does Mehul Choksi face?**
Mehul Choksi is accused of being involved in a ₹12,636 crore fraud case linked to the Punjab National Bank, along with several associates.