Mehul Choksi, Uncle Of Nirav Modi Arrested, Plans To Fight Extradition To India

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – Fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium in response to a request from Indian authorities, his lawyer confirmed on April 14. The arrest took place on April 12.

Choksi, who fled India in 2018, is wanted for defrauding Punjab National Bank of nearly $1.8 billion, in what is considered one of the country’s biggest financial scandals. He is the former head of Gitanjali Gems, and once oversaw a retail empire with around 4,000 stores across India.

His lawyer said he will contest both the arrest and the extradition request. “He is not a flight risk and is undergoing cancer treatment,” the lawyer told the BBC, adding that they would argue the extradition is politically motivated and that Choksi may not receive a fair trial in India.

Reacting to the arrest, Bengaluru entrepreneur Hariprasad SV — who first flagged the alleged scam in 2016 — said it was not only great news but “The priority now is not just bringing him back but recovering the billions he stole,” he told ANI.

Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi, are accused of orchestrating the massive fraud. Modi, also living abroad since 2018, is currently in a London prison, awaiting extradition to India. His luxury jewelry was once worn by Hollywood celebrities, with actor Priyanka Chopra serving as a brand ambassador.