The Belgian authorities apprehended Mehul Choksi and confirmed his custody on Monday

The Belgian authorities have apprehended Indian fugitive diamond businessman Mehul Choksi and confirmed his custody on Monday, according to media reports.

Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is wanted in India by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged involvement in a $1.8 billion loan fraud case involving one of India's largest public-sector banks.

Choksi, currently an Antiguan citizen, was apprehended near his residence in Antwerp, Belgium, reports said. The Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice confirmed his detention, stating, "[Mr. Choksi] is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. Access to his legal counsel has been assured."

"We can confirm that the Indian authorities have introduced an extradition request for Choksi," The Hindu cited the Belgian Justice Department as saying. Choksi's case will come up for hearing in Belgian courts next week, the newspaper added.

Reports indicate he obtained Belgian residency in November 2023, facilitated by his marriage to a Belgian national. Prior to his move to Belgium, Choksi cited medical reasons, specifically chronic lymphocytic leukemia, as grounds for his inability to travel, as evidenced by documents submitted to a special court in Mumbai in February.

This is not the first time New Delhi has sought Choksi's extradition. In 2021, a court in Dominica dismissed a petition from India's investigators for his extradition. The decision came after Choksi alleged that he was kidnapped and physically assaulted by individuals working on behalf of the Indian government.

Following this, the international law enforcement agency Interpol withdrew its Red Notice against Choksi. His lawyers had argued that his treatment constituted human rights violations and that he was being "politically targeted" by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It goes without saying that we will fight that extradition, we have serious questions about the course of events," Choksi's Belgian lawyer Simon Bekaert told the newspaper De Standaard, adding that Choksi would not receive a "fair trial" in India.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment on the case, but Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the arrest of Choksi was a result of the government's successful diplomatic efforts. Senior Advocate and former Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi told news outlet India Today that the legal arguments made by Choksi to avoid extradition seemed to be weak and were unlikely to succeed.

However, other experts believe the process to extradite him will be lengthy. India and Belgium signed an extradition treaty in March 2020.

(RT.com)