In a major breakthrough for Indian authorities, fugitive diamond tycoon Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium, bringing a dramatic turn to the long-running ₹13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. The joint operation by Indian and Belgian law enforcement reportedly intercepted Choksi as he was preparing to flee to Switzerland under the pretext of seeking medical treatment.
Choksi, the former head of the Gitanjali Group, had been on the run since 2018 after allegedly orchestrating one of India’s biggest banking scams. He initially surfaced in Antigua and Barbuda, where he secured citizenship through an investment program, and largely stayed out of the public eye until 2021.
That year, Choksi was found in Dominica under unusual circumstances. He claimed he was abducted from Antigua, tortured, and forcibly placed on a boat that transported him to the Caribbean island. His sensational allegations included an elaborate "honey-trap" plot involving a Hungarian woman named Barbara Jabarika, whom he accused of being complicit in his alleged abduction.
The arrest in Belgium marks a critical moment in the multi-country pursuit that has spanned nearly seven years. As extradition proceedings are expected to follow, Indian authorities inch closer to bringing Choksi back to face justice on home soil.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)