Fugitive of justice, Indian national Mohul Choksi has been arrested in the northern port city of Antwerp. He had reportedly been living there in a luxury flat for several months. Choksi is alleged to have embezzled 1.6 billion euros.
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Indian suspected of making €1.6 billion disappear held in luxury flat in Antwerp
Colin Clapson
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Indian police have been looking for Choksi since 2018. He, along with 3 other cronies, allegedly made money disappear from the Punjab National Bank. That’s a state-owned bank in India. A total of 1.6 billion euros has allegedly disappeared.
From the Caribbean to luxury in Antwerp
When the fraud came to light, Choksi left for the Caribbean. There he hid for a while until he was targeted by kidnappers. Since then, little has been heard of him.
Court documents leaked in the Indian press now reveal that Choksi lived in Antwerp's Eilandje district for a time. Choksi also had a certificate from a Belgian doctor stating that he could not travel as he had blood cancer. As a result, he could not appear at the trial in India on embezzlement charges.
Extradition could turn into a lengthy battle
The Antwerp prosecutor's office has now confirmed Choksi’s arrest but otherwise declined to comment. In similar cases, the suspect is arrested in Belgium in response to a request from India. Then the extradition procedure starts, but it can take a long time if the suspect resists and that certainly seems to be the case in this instance.
A companion of Choksi’s is languishing at His Majesty's pleasure in a British jail cell but is also resisting his extradition. According to the Indian press, it is no coincidence that Choksi turned up in Antwerp. He is said to have lived here before and to have good contacts within the Indian community that is closely connected to the Antwerp diamond trade.