Fugitive Jewel Thief Mehul Choksi Detained in Belgium Amid Fraud Charges

The arrest of the high-profile fugitive diamond dealer Mehul Choksi in Belgium marks a key moment in an ongoing saga surrounding severe banking fraud charges in India, with implications that reverberate through international law enforcement and financial integrity.

Mehul Choksi, the wealthy diamond merchant wanted by Indian authorities in a significant fraud case involving Punjab National Bank, has been apprehended by Belgian police in Antwerp. This arrest occurred over the weekend, with Choksi's lawyer confirming the detention on Monday. At 65 years old, Choksi faces allegations of attempting to defraud the state-owned bank of nearly $1.8 billion, a scandal that shook India upon its emergence in 2018.

Following the initial accusations, Choksi fled India, making homes in various Caribbean nations and eventually settling in Belgium. The police action was reportedly instigated by a request from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation for Choksi's extradition, which his lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, is now contesting on health grounds. Aggarwal claims his client suffers from a serious illness, expressing that Choksi poses no flight risk and should be released.

Choksi’s legal troubles mirror those faced by his nephew Nirav Modi, another high-profile jeweler implicated in the same scandal, who was arrested in London in 2019. Both cases underline an alarming trend in India, where taxpayer-funded banks increasingly fall prey to elite fraud, raising concerns about accountability in the financial system. The public remains captivated as pursuit efforts for justice continue in both men's cases.

As proceedings unfold in Belgium, the potential for extradition to India adds further intrigue to this ongoing international legal drama.