Belgian court orders fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s extradition, upholds India’s request

An Antwerp court has ordered fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s extradition to India and termed his arrest by the Belgian authorities based on India’s request as valid, a development which brings New Delhi a step closer to bringing him back, people familiar with the development said. To be sure, Choksi still has an option to appeal against the decision in a higher court, according to an officer familiar with the matter, who added “this means he may not come immediately but the first and a very important stage is cleared”. The Antwerp court heard both sides, Belgian prosecutors (on behalf of India) and Choksi, on Friday and ruled that his arrest and India’s extradition request was valid.