Mehul Choksi Residing in Belgium: Indian Authorities Seek Extradition

Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is reportedly residing in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife. Indian authorities have requested his extradition in connection with a major bank fraud case worth ₹13,500 crores. Allegations suggest he obtained residency through misleading documentation. His nephew, Nirav Modi, is also entangled in legal trouble concerning the same fraud case committed against Punjab National Bank.

Recent reports indicate that fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is residing in Antwerp, Belgium, along with his wife, Preeti Choksi. He reportedly acquired a residency card for the country. Consequently, Indian authorities have requested Belgian officials to commence extradition proceedings against him. However, there has been no official confirmation from Indian authorities regarding this matter.

Mehul Choksi, the owner of the Gitanjali Group, is wanted in India for his involvement in a ₹13,500-crore bank loan fraud. Alongside his nephew, Nirav Modi, he stands accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, which involves allegations of defrauding the bank out of over ₹14,000 crore. Significant actions were taken against Choksi, his relatives, employees, and various bank officials by the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2018.

Choksi fled India in January 2018 and was previously believed to be living in Antigua and Barbuda before his apparent move to Belgium. Preeti Choksi, his spouse, is a Belgian citizen. His current residency status reportedly stems from a ‘F Residency Card’, which he obtained under questionable circumstances involving the provision of misleading documentation and false declarations regarding his nationality to Belgian authorities.

The case highlights allegations that Choksi utilized forged documents to misrepresent his identity, intentionally not disclosing his citizenship in India and Antigua. Reports also suggest that he used medical grounds as justification for his stay at a prominent cancer hospital in Belgium. Meanwhile, Nirav Modi, currently detained in London, is contesting his extradition to India while facing multiple denials of bail.

In May 2021, Choksi’s mysterious disappearance from Antigua raised concerns, although he was later located and returned to the island. The situation continues to evolve as Indian authorities seek his extradition for the fraud charges he faces.

In summary, Mehul Choksi, a fugitive business figure implicated in a significant bank fraud case, is reportedly living in Belgium with his wife. Indian authorities have initiated extradition proceedings against him after claims surfaced that he acquired residency under false pretenses. As the case develops, it underscores international concerns regarding financial fraud and the ongoing legal challenges for both Choksi and his associate, Nirav Modi.

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