In a significant legal development, a court in Antwerp, Belgium, has approved the extradition of Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamond trader, to India. This decision comes nearly five months after Choksi’s arrest in Belgium in connection with the ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case. The 64-year-old businessman now has a 15-day window to appeal the ruling before Belgium’s Supreme Court. The Indian government has provided assurances regarding the detention conditions Choksi would face if extradited, including his placement in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail. Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is accused of orchestrating a massive fraud between 2014 and 2017 by using fraudulent Letters of Undertaking to secure overseas credit. The alleged scam resulted in losses exceeding ₹13,500 crore for PNB, with Choksi’s share estimated at ₹6,000 crore. After fleeing India in 2018, Choksi obtained citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda through its investment program before relocating to Belgium in 2024, reportedly for medical treatment. India’s extradition treaty with Belgium, established in 1901, facilitates the transfer of fugitives charged with crimes punishable in both jurisdictions. Choksi’s legal team has raised concerns about his health and the conditions of Indian prisons, arguing that he would not receive due process in India. The case continues to draw significant attention as it moves closer to a potential resolution.