 "Belgian court clears Mehul Choksi’s extradition to India, rules arrest lawful")
A Belgian court in Antwerp has approved the extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi to India, ruling that his arrest by Belgian authorities earlier this year was lawful.
Officials described the decision as a major breakthrough in India’s efforts to bring Choksi back, though he retains the right to appeal to a higher court. “The first and very important stage is cleared,” officials told PTI.
Court validates India’s extradition request
On Friday, the Antwerp court heard arguments from both Belgian prosecutors representing India and Choksi’s legal team. After reviewing the evidence, the court ruled that India’s extradition request and Choksi’s arrest on April 11, 2025, were valid. The 65-year-old has been in Belgian custody for over four months, and his multiple bail pleas have been rejected.
The court noted that Choksi can still appeal the decision, meaning he will not be immediately returned to India. Authorities called the ruling a crucial first step in the extradition process.
Dual criminality and legal basis
During the hearing, the court found that the offences Choksi faces in India—including criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, destruction of evidence, and corruption—are also punishable under Belgian law, fulfilling the “dual criminality” requirement under international extradition treaties.
India has charged Choksi under several sections of the Indian Penal Code—120B, 201, 409, 420, and 477A—and under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI has also cited the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), both of which Belgium has ratified.
The CBI team has visited Belgium three times to submit evidence and hired a European law firm to assist with the extradition proceedings.
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