Setback to Choksi as Belgian court okays diamond bizman extradition

ONE of the eight Antwerp courts for distinct civil and criminal matters has ruled that fugitive Indian diamond merchant Mehul Choksi can be extradited to India, and termed his arrest by the Belgian authorities on the basis of India's request valid, officials here said on Friday.

- MUKESH RANJAN @ New Delhi

They said that the judgment by the Belgian court brings the Indian agencies a step closer to bringing him back.

However, the officials said that Choksi still has an option to appeal against the ruling in a higher court, implying that he might not be brought immediately, but this is a step forward, as it cleared a major hurdle.

The officials said that the court heard the Belgian prosecutors representing Indian agencies and Choksi's counsels on Friday and ruled that his arrest and India's extradition request was valid.