A court in Antwerp, Belgium, on Friday approved the extradition of India’s fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi. Officials said the court ruled that Choksi’s arrest by Belgian police at the request of Indian agencies was lawful.

However, Choksi still has the right to appeal in a higher court. If he does not appeal or if the appeal is rejected, the process to deport him to India will proceed.

Belgian police had arrested Mehul Choksi on April 12 following India’s request for extradition in the Punjab National Bank loan fraud case. He is currently in jail.

Choksi is accused of a fraud worth ₹13,850 crore. He was living with his wife, Preeti Choksi, who has Belgian citizenship. The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed Choksi’s presence in the country.

At the time of his arrest

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