PNB loan scam accused fugitive Mehul Choksi arrested in Belgium

PNB loan scam prime accused and fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium. Indian agencies had traced Choksi in Belgium. According to the information, 65-year-old Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Saturday, 12 April 2025, at the request of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and he is currently being held in jail there. Now the Government of India is preparing for his extradition. However, Choksi's lawyer in the court will try for his bail based on health reasons and other arguments.

According to media reports, Mehul Choksi, the founder of Gitanjali Gems, had submitted fake and misleading documents to obtain residency in Belgium to avoid extradition to India. This claim has been made in a report by the Associated Press.

Choksi is accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) of about Rs 13,500 crore. It is considered the second-largest bank scam in India's history. Even before the fraud came to light, in January 2018, Choksi fled from India along with his nephew Nirav Modi. He later took Antiguan citizenship.

It is being reported that Choksi was living in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife, Preeti Choksi. Since Preeti has Belgian citizenship, and Choksi had an 'F Residency Card', he came to Belgium from Antigua on the pretext of treatment.

Earlier, in 2021, when Choksi was allegedly traveling towards Cuba, he was caught in Dominica. At that time, Choksi had claimed that this action against him was taken under a political conspiracy. He had also alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had illegally seized his properties in India.

Now that Choksi is in custody in Belgium, Indian agencies are eyeing his extradition so that he can be brought to India and brought to justice.