Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is reportedly living in Antwerp, Belgium, alongside his wife, Preeti Choksi, after securing an "F Residency Card" in the country. This development, reported by Associated Times, a Caribbean-focused media outlet, comes despite his ongoing status as a wanted figure in India for his alleged role in the Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. Indian authorities have reportedly requested Belgium to initiate the process of his extradition, though no official confirmation has been issued by Indian officials yet.
Choksi was previously known to be residing in Antigua and Barbuda, where he acquired citizenship under the country’s Citizenship by Investment Program. His wife, Preeti, holds Belgian citizenship, which may have facilitated their move to Belgium. The report alleges that Choksi manipulated the Belgian residency process by submitting false declarations and forged documents, deliberately concealing his Indian and Antiguan nationalities to obtain legal residence. Sources claim that he misrepresented key details during his application to evade extradition to India.
The report further suggests that Choksi is now exploring the possibility of relocating to Switzerland, citing medical reasons and planning treatment at a renowned cancer hospital. This move is believed to be part of a broader strategy to remain out of reach of Indian authorities.
Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, stands accused of orchestrating one of India’s largest financial frauds. The duo allegedly siphoned off Rs 13,500 crore from PNB by securing unauthorized letters of undertaking (LoUs). While Nirav Modi remains incarcerated in a London prison, he has persistently challenged India’s extradition requests, facing repeated denials of bail from British courts.
Choksi’s case has been riddled with dramatic twists. In May 2021, he mysteriously disappeared from Antigua, only to resurface in Dominica under questionable circumstances. He claimed to have been abducted by Indian agents, a narrative rejected by Indian authorities. After a brief legal battle in Dominica, he was eventually allowed to return to Antigua, where he continued to resist extradition proceedings.
The news of his relocation to Belgium, if confirmed, could present a new diplomatic and legal challenge for India’s Ministry of External Affairs and law enforcement agencies. Belgium has an extradition treaty with India, but the process could be complicated if Choksi is able to leverage his Belgian residency status or seek further refuge in Switzerland under medical grounds.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which have been leading the probe against Choksi, are likely to intensify efforts to ensure he faces trial in India. His assets in India and overseas have been seized under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, yet bringing him back to stand trial remains a top priority for Indian authorities, particularly given the scale of public outrage surrounding the PNB scam.
As the story unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Belgium will honor India’s extradition request, and how Choksi plans to navigate the tightening international scrutiny around his movements and legal status.
