Extradition battle: Why India is detailing Mehul Choksi’s meals, medical care and barrack space to Belgium

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given a detailed undertaking to Belgium’s Ministry of Justice on how fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi will be housed and treated in India if extradited.

The commitment, framed as binding sovereign assurances, is central to India’s bid to bring Choksi back from Belgium, where he was arrested in April.

Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, stands accused in the ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, one of India’s largest banking scams.

While Nirav Modi is already facing extradition proceedings in the UK, India has pressed Belgium to send Choksi back to face trial. The guarantees offered by the MHA are meant to address concerns over detention standards, human rights compliance, and prison conditions.

Barrack No. 12 at Arthur Road Jail

For Choksi’s custody, the MHA has earmarked Barrack No. 12 at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail. The facility, designed exclusively for non-violent offenders, is currently vacant and has a capacity of six inmates. Each detainee is promised three square metres of personal space, in line with norms set by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).

The cells, according to the MHA’s letter quoted by ANI, come with attached sanitation facilities—flush toilets and wash basins—along with ventilation, ceiling fans, regular cleaning, and uninterrupted water supply. Sleeping arrangements include cotton mats, pillows, sheets and blankets, with the option of beds if prescribed by doctors.

“Detainees will receive adequate food three times daily, with accommodations for special dietary needs subject to medical approval. A jail canteen and provisions such as fruits and basic snacks are also available. Daily outdoor exercise is permitted in an open-to-sky yard, and indoor recreation includes board games and casual badminton. The jail also offers yoga, meditation, and access to a library and reading materials,” the MHA stated.

What next for Mehul Choksi?

The jail’s 20-bed hospital is equipped with intensive care facilities and staffed round the clock by six medical officers and supporting personnel. Prisoners may be referred to Mumbai’s Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals in emergencies, and private treatment is permitted at personal expense, especially for pre-existing health conditions.

The barrack is under continuous CCTV surveillance, with oversight from prison authorities, the state human rights commission, and judicial inspections. Complaint mechanisms have also been specified to address potential grievances.

The MHA stressed that these commitments are “binding sovereign assurances” that cannot be altered by administrative or judicial action under Indian law. Training protocols for staff, including six-month guard programmes and year-long officer courses with stress management, were highlighted to show preparedness in maintaining international standards.

By laying out such specific guarantees, India seeks to counter any concerns of mistreatment under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, a key obstacle in extradition proceedings before Belgian courts.

Belgian authorities will now examine the assurances alongside their own legal benchmarks before deciding whether to allow extradition. If approved, Choksi will face trial in India under multiple charges, including conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

For Centre, the detailed assurances are not just a bureaucratic exercise but a strategic move to bring one of the country’s most high-profile economic fugitives back to face justice.