Thu Nov 20 12:26:59 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Fugitive Indian diamond trader Mehul Choksi’s challenge to his extradition to India will be heard by Belgium’s Supreme Court (Court of Cassation) on December 9th, 2025. This follows an October ruling by the Antwerp Court of Appeal that upheld India’s extradition request, deeming it enforceable. The Court of Cassation will only review legal aspects of the lower court’s decision, not new evidence. Choksi is accused of siphoning off a significant portion of a ₹13,000 crore PNB scam and fled India in 2018. Indian authorities have assured Belgium that Choksi will receive a fair trial and will not be subjected to ill-treatment if extradited.
News Article:
Choksi Extradition Case Heads to Belgian Supreme Court
New Delhi – November 20, 2025 – The legal battle surrounding the extradition of fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi is set to continue in Belgium’s highest court. The Court of Cassation will hear Choksi’s challenge to an extradition order on December 9th, officials confirmed today.
Choksi, wanted in India for his alleged role in a massive ₹13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, is fighting his return to India. He fled the country in 2018, just before the scam was uncovered, and has since been residing in Antigua and Barbuda, although he has been spotted in Belgium seeking medical treatment.
The upcoming hearing follows an October 17th ruling by the Antwerp Court of Appeal that upheld India’s request for extradition, finding it enforceable. However, the Court of Cassation’s review will be limited to legal aspects of the previous ruling, focusing on whether the Court of Appeal correctly applied legal procedures. No new evidence can be presented at this stage.
“The Court of Cassation only checks the decision of the court of appeal on legal aspects,” Advocaat-generaal Henri Vanderlinden told PTI.
Indian authorities have assured Belgium that Choksi will be afforded a fair trial and will not be subjected to ill-treatment if extradited. These assurances aim to alleviate concerns raised by Choksi and his legal team. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Choksi is accused of siphoning off ₹6,400 crore of the total scam amount. India formally requested Choksi’s extradition from Belgium on August 27, 2024, based on arrest warrants issued by a special court in Mumbai.
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