The agencies — the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) — had been tracking the fugitive since he fled India on January 2, 2018.

The court’s order noted that Choksi is not a Belgian citizen but a foreign national. He was arrested in Antwerp on April 11, 2025, at the request of Indian agencies.

“The offences cited by India — including fraud, forgery, document falsification, and corruption — are also considered crimes under Belgian law. The cases registered in India fall under IPC sections 120B, 201, 409, 420, 477A and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, all carrying imprisonment of more than one year,” the order stated.

The Belgian court also recognised equivalent offences under Articles 66, 196, 197, 213, 240, 241, 245, 246, 247 SSSS2-4, 324a-b, and 496 of the Belgian Criminal Code, covering criminal organisation, swindle, embezzlement, and forgery.

Rejecting Choksi’s claims of political persecution, the Court of Appeal said the offences “cannot be considered political, military or non-extraditable tax offences,” adding there were “no grounds to believe that the request was made to prosecute or punish him for his race, religion, nationality or political affiliation.”

Choksi had also alleged he was kidnapped from Antigua by Indian agencies. The court, however, said “it cannot be inferred from the documents supplied… that he was kidnapped in Antigua on the instructions of Indian authorities.”

It also dismissed his claims that the Indian judiciary lacks independence and that media coverage would prevent a fair trial, calling such fears unfounded.