Belgian Top Court Rejects Mehul Choksi's Extradition Appeal, Clears Path for India's Request

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In a significant development, Belgium's top court, the Court of Cassation, has rejected fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi's appeal against his extradition to India. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, upholds the decision of an Antwerp court of appeals, which had dismissed Choksi's contention that he would face torture or denial of justice in India. Choksi, 65, has been held in a Belgian prison since his arrest in April 2022, following an extradition request from the Indian government. He is accused of six bank frauds between 2018 and 2022, involving nearly ₹13,000 crore. The Court of Cassation's decision is a major victory for the Indian government, which had been seeking Choksi's extradition. The court ruled that Choksi's arrest warrants issued by Indian courts were enforceable, and that the offences he is accused of carry a minimum prison sentence of one year in both India and Belgium. The Indian government had assured Belgium that Choksi would be held in a prison that meets European standards for preventing torture, and would be provided with all necessary facilities, including clean drinking water, adequate food, and medical attention. Choksi's extradition has been sought under Indian Penal Code sections 120 B, 201, 409, 420, 477A, and sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which are also crimes in Belgium under the dual criminality clause of the extradition treaty. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption were also invoked in the extradition request. The decision is seen as a significant step towards Choksi's extradition to India, where he will face trial for the alleged bank frauds. The Indian government has welcomed the ruling, and is expected to proceed with the formal extradition process.