A court in Antwerp on Friday cleared the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, noting that his arrest by the Belgian authorities on India’s request was valid, officials in the know of the development said.
The order has come as a strong validation for India’s case seeking his extradition, with Choksi having the option of appealing against the decision in a superior court in Belgium, they said.”The order has come in our favour. The court has termed his arrest by the Belgian authorities on India’s request valid. The first legal step in getting him extradited is now clear,” a senior official said.
Belgian prosecutors were aided by Indian officials from the external affairs ministry and the CBI in putting forth strong arguments on Choksi’s alleged crime in orchestrating a Rs 13,000 crore scam in the Punjab National Bank in collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi.
The prosecutors told the court that he remains a flight risk and cannot be released from prison, the officials said.