Mumbai: Belgium’s top court has dismissed fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s appeal against his arrest in Antwerp, which was made on the basis of an extradition request from New Delhi, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Belgian Court of Cassation — equivalent to India’s Supreme Court — heard Choksi’s plea in Brussels on Tuesday and ruled in favour of India. “The Court of Cassation rejected the appeal of Choksi. So, the decision of the Court of Appeal stands,” Henri Vanderlinden, advocate general at Brussels, confirmed to HT via email.

Officials said the ruling upholds the Antwerp Court of Appeal’s October 17 decision, which rejected Choksi’s argument that he would face a risk of torture if returned to India. They described the verdict as a positive development for the Indian government, adding that the formal extradition process in Belgium may now proceed.

Choksi, 65, has been in custody in Antwerp since his arrest on April 11 following India’s request. He approached the Court of Cassation on October 30. Indian agencies have accused him of six bank fraud cases committed between 2018 and 2022, involving nearly ₹13,000 crore.

In its October 17 ruling, the Antwerp court dismissed Choksi’s challenge to his arrest, holding that he was neither facing a political trial nor at risk of torture or denial of justice in India. The court also rejected his claim that he was abducted from Antigua and Barbuda in May 2021 at the behest of Indian authorities.

The four-member Chamber of Accusation at the Antwerp Court of Appeal further ruled that two Indian arrest warrants — issued on May 23, 2018, and June 15, 2021, at the CBI’s request — remain enforceable on charges including criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, fraud, embezzlement and criminal misconduct.