Mon Apr 14 06:52:00 UTC 2025: ## Mehul Choksi’s Arrest in Belgium Welcomed, but Extradition Battle Looms

**Brussels/Delhi, [Date]** – The arrest of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in Belgium has been met with mixed reactions. While Santosh Srivastava, a former Gitanjali Gems managing director and whistleblower in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, hailed the arrest and urged for swift extradition, concerns remain about the challenges ahead.

Choksi, wanted in India for allegedly defrauding the PNB of ₹13,850 crore (approximately $1.7 billion USD) alongside his nephew Nirav Modi, was apprehended in Belgium on Saturday. Srivastava expressed hope that the Indian government will successfully recover the defrauded funds.

However, Choksi’s lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, has already announced plans to appeal for his release, citing the businessman’s ill health and ongoing cancer treatment. Aggarwal claims Choksi is not a flight risk.

Meanwhile, Hariprasad SV, another whistleblower in the PNB scam, expressed skepticism about the ease of extradition. He pointed to Choksi’s previous escape from Dominica and predicted a protracted legal battle, suggesting Choksi’s considerable wealth will allow him to employ top European lawyers to fight extradition.

The 65-year-old Choksi fled India in January 2018. His arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation, but the legal process promises to be complex and challenging for Indian authorities.

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