'Attach Great Importance To Case': Belgian Govt To News18 Amid Reports That Mehul Choksi Is Living There
Belgium's ministry of foreign affairs has responded to News18’s query on whether Mehul Choksi has obtained temporary citizenship of that country using forged documents and that the Indian government has sought his swift extradition
Fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi is reportedly living in Belgium’s Antwerp with his wife, Preeti Choksi, who is a Belgian citizen, after securing an ‘F Residency Card’ in the country. Now, Belgium has responded to CNN-News18’s query on whether Mehul Choksi has obtained temporary citizenship of that country using forged documents and that the Indian government has sought his swift extradition.
“I can confirm that the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs is aware of this case and attaches great importance and attention to it. However, we do not comment on individual cases. Furthermore, this case falls under the competence of the Federal Public Service Justice. The FPS Foreign Affairs continues to closely follow the developments in this important case," David Jordens, spokesperson of the Belgian ministry of foreign affairs, told CNN-News18
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Choksi, who has been on the run from Indian authorities for several years for his alleged involvement in a Rs 13,500-crore loan fraud in Punjab National Bank along with Nirav Modi, was reportedly granted residency on November 15, 2023. His wife is said to have played a key role in securing the residency for him, according to a report by the Associated Times.
Sources told the publication that Choksi, in order to obtain the residency, allegedly submitted misleading and fabricated documentation, including false declarations and forged documents. He also reportedly failed to disclose his Indian and Antigua citizenships.
It is also learnt that Indian authorities have requested the Belgian government for Choksi’s extradition. However, his newly acquired Belgian residency complicates matters, granting him the freedom to travel between European countries and hindering efforts to bring him back to face trial in India.
Further complicating the situation, Choksi is reportedly planning to move to Switzerland, citing the need for medical treatment at the Hirslanden Klinik Aarau, a well-known cancer hospital. This move is being seen as another attempt to delay his extradition process, using humanitarian grounds as justification.
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