India Provides Assurances To Belgium On Mehul Choksi’s Extradition

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) furnished a formal letter of assurance to Belgium’s Ministry of Justice and judicial authorities, outlining the conditions under which fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi would be detained if extradited from Belgium to India.

The Government of Maharashtra and prison authorities endorsed the assurances, which included material, medical, and procedural safeguards to address human rights concerns in extradition proceedings.

Charges Against Mehul Choksi’s

India submitted the assurances as part of its request for Choksi’s extradition in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case.

Authorities have accused him under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), Sections 409, 420, 477A, and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act (POCA), 1988.

The MHA designated Barrack No. 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai as the facility for Choksi’s detention.

Officials detailed specific safeguards, including a minimum personal space of three square metres per detainee, adherence to the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) norms, and a maximum occupancy of six persons.

At present, the two identified cells remain unoccupied.

Authorities confirmed that detainees receive clean bedding, mattresses, pillows, and blankets, with metal or wooden beds provided on medical advice.

Each cell contains ventilators, ceiling fans, grilled windows, and a continuous water supply. Attached sanitation facilities include flush toilets, wash basins, and bathing amenities.

The MHA assured that detainees receive three meals daily, with special diets available on medical recommendation.

Jail canteens provide fruits and snacks, while inmates can access outdoor exercise yards and indoor recreation like board games and badminton. Additional activities include yoga, meditation, and library access.

A 24×7 medical facility with six doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and lab staff supports inmates. A 20-bed prison hospital with ICU capability is available, with emergency referrals to Sir JJ Group of Hospitals nearby.

The MHA confirmed that Choksi’s existing medical reports will be considered, and necessary therapies will be provided free of cost.

Security and Oversight

Officials said prison staff monitor Barrack No. 12 round-the-clock via CCTV, and the facility houses only non-violent offenders while remaining segregated from the main complex.

Authorities highlighted safeguards against overcrowding, violence, and extortion. Detainees have daily access to lawyers, weekly family visits, and communication through telephone and video conferencing.

Oversight mechanisms include inspections by the National and State Human Rights Commissions (NHRC/SHRC) and judicial monitoring. Complaint channels and remedial measures are in place.

Moreover, the prison guards undergo six months of training, while officers complete a one-year induction, supplemented by refresher courses that emphasise yoga and meditation to encourage restraint.

The MHA characterised its commitments as sovereign and binding under Indian law. Belgian courts, including the Chambers of Indictment in Antwerp, will now evaluate these guarantees in light of legal and evidentiary requirements for extradition.

If the courts deem them adequate, Belgium could surrender Choksi to India to face trial in the multi-billion-dollar Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

Authorities in Belgium arrested Choksi in April after India’s formal extradition request. He and his nephew Nirav Modi are the prime accused in the PNB fraud case, which involves massive fraudulent transactions.

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