In a significant development, fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium following India's request for his extradition in connection with the infamous ₹13,500-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case. This arrest comes after media reports confirmed that Choksi had been residing in Antwerp with his wife, Preeti Choksi, after obtaining a Belgian residency card.
The arrest took place on Saturday, with Indian agencies—the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—actively pursuing his extradition after the Interpol Red Notice against him was "deleted." Choksi, the founder of Gitanjali Gems, had previously been living in Antigua and Barbuda before relocating to Belgium in late 2023. He was granted Belgian residency on November 15, 2023, reportedly using forged documents to support his application.
Sources confirm that Indian authorities had been in close contact with Belgian officials, urging them to take action against the wanted jeweler. His wife, Preeti Choksi, holds Belgian citizenship, further complicating the case.
Mehul Choksi has been a key figure in the PNB fraud case, where he, along with others, is accused of orchestrating a multi-billion-rupee scam that rocked India's banking sector. The authorities are now focused on securing his extradition from Belgium to face charges in India.
This arrest marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to bring Choksi to justice for his role in one of India's most high-profile financial frauds.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)