NEW DELHI: A court in Antwerp has ruled that fugitive Indian diamond merchant Mehul Choksi can be extradited to India, terming his arrest by Belgian authorities as valid, a ccording to officials familiar with the development.

The ruling by one of the eight Antwerp courts for distinct civil and criminal matters is a significant step for Indian agencies in their efforts to bring Choksi back.

However, the officials noted that Choksi still has the option to appeal the ruling in a higher court, meaning his immediate return is not certain. Nonetheless, this judgment clears an important legal hurdle.

The court heard arguments from Belgian prosecutors, who were representing Indian agencies, and from Choksi’s counsel on Friday before ruling that his arrest and India’s extradition request we

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