Belgium says aware of Mehul Choksi's presence, monitoring the case closely
Bobins Abraham | Mar 26, 2025, 09:14 IST
( Image credit : Indiatimes )
Mehul Choksi, who fled India in 2018 after the PNB scam surfaced, had been living in Antigua and Barbuda ever since and had acquired citizenship there. He reportedly left the Caribbean island under the pretext of medical treatment and acquired an 'F Residency Card' in Belgium.
Belgian authorities have confirmed that they are aware of fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi's presence in the country after he fled Antigua and Barbuda. The Belgian government said it is closely monitoring the case and added that it is being handled with significant attention.
David Jordens, the Spokesperson and Head of Service for social media and press at Belgium's Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs, said the case involving the PNB scam accused falls under the competence of the Federal Public Service Justice.
"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," he said.
The development comes days after it emerged that the 65-year-old was living in Belgium's Antwerp with his wife, Preeti Choksi, who is a Belgian citizen.
Choksi, who fled India in 2018 after the PNB scam surfaced, had been living in Antigua and Barbuda ever since and had acquired citizenship there.
He reportedly left the Caribbean island under the pretext of medical treatment and acquired an 'F Residency Card' in Belgium.
Choksi was said to be planning to move to Switzerland for medical treatment at a renowned cancer hospital when reports of his presence in Belgium surfaced.
Once a celebrated jewellery businessman and the founder of Gitanjali Group, Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, are the masterminds of the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. The duo, along with some PNB officials, are accused of siphoning off large amounts of money using fraudulent letters of undertaking.
Choksi and Modi, along with their families, fled India before the scam surfaced. While Choksi took refuge in Antigua and Barbuda and acquired nationality using the island's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme, Nirav Modi, who also had Belgian citizenship, was hiding in the UK.
However, his luck ran out in March 2019, when he was arrested in London and has remained behind bars ever since. He has lost his appeals against extradition to India, but Nirav Modi has not been handed over to the Indian authorities yet due to an unspecified "confidential" procedure.
For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
What Belgium said
David Jordens, the Spokesperson and Head of Service for social media and press at Belgium's Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs, said the case involving the PNB scam accused falls under the competence of the Federal Public Service Justice.
Belgium says aware of Mehul Choksi's presence, monitoring the case closely
( Image credit : CREDIT: BCCL )
"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," he said.
Mehul Choksi left Antigua and Barbuda
The development comes days after it emerged that the 65-year-old was living in Belgium's Antwerp with his wife, Preeti Choksi, who is a Belgian citizen.
Choksi, who fled India in 2018 after the PNB scam surfaced, had been living in Antigua and Barbuda ever since and had acquired citizenship there.
He reportedly left the Caribbean island under the pretext of medical treatment and acquired an 'F Residency Card' in Belgium.
Choksi was said to be planning to move to Switzerland for medical treatment at a renowned cancer hospital when reports of his presence in Belgium surfaced.
Mehul Choksi
( Image credit : CREDIT: BCCL )
PNB scam
Once a celebrated jewellery businessman and the founder of Gitanjali Group, Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, are the masterminds of the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. The duo, along with some PNB officials, are accused of siphoning off large amounts of money using fraudulent letters of undertaking.
Where is Nirav Modi
Choksi and Modi, along with their families, fled India before the scam surfaced. While Choksi took refuge in Antigua and Barbuda and acquired nationality using the island's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme, Nirav Modi, who also had Belgian citizenship, was hiding in the UK.
Belgium says aware of Mehul Choksi's presence, monitoring the case closely
( Image credit : CREDIT: BCCL )
However, his luck ran out in March 2019, when he was arrested in London and has remained behind bars ever since. He has lost his appeals against extradition to India, but Nirav Modi has not been handed over to the Indian authorities yet due to an unspecified "confidential" procedure.
For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
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