"Extremely heartening... culprit likely to face Justice": PNB scam Whistleblower hails Belgium Court's rejection of Mehul Choksi's appeal

New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Santosh Srivastava, the former Managing Director of Gitanjali Gems and a key whistleblower in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam allegedly involving fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, has welcomed the decision of Belgian's Court of Cassation to dismiss Choksi's final appeal against extradition to India.
Describing the ruling as "extremely heartening" and "momentous," Srivastava said the rejection of Choksi's objections gives hope to all Indians that one of the culprits behind one of the country's biggest financial scams will soon return to face justice.
"It is extremely heartening to hear this news that the Belgian apex court has rejected his appeal against extradition, which definitely gives hope to all of us Indian that the culprits of one of the biggest financial scams of this country is likely to come back to India and face justice. So it's extremely happy news, and particularly if people like us who risk their lives as well as carriers in trying to expose this case. I am very pleased to hear this momentous news. I would urge the agency and authorities to take swift action to bring him back to India and put him through the process of justice," he told ANI.
Srivastava emphasised that the alleged scam was essentially a crime against the Government of India and its citizens. "These people Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi created fake LoU documents, showed fictitious imports for their businesses, and siphoned off money borrowed from banks to build personal wealth abroad," he said.
"This is a crime against the citizens and government of India. They deserve proper justice. With the culprits returning, whatever money is possible should also be recovered."He added that while the full extent of the losses may not be recoverable, bringing the perpetrators to justice sends a positive message to those who were cheated. "The siphoned bank money is essentially taxpayers' money; every Indian taxpayer lost out. Real justice will be when the entire amount is recovered and brought back to India, compensating those affected," he added
These remarks were made after the Court of Cassation of Belgium dismissed Choksi's appeal against extradition to India, affirming that he failed to establish any legal or factual ground warranting interference with earlier orders permitting his surrender.
In its judgment, the Belgian Supreme Court upheld the October 17, 2025, ruling of the Antwerp Court of Appeal's Chamber of Indictment and concluded that the extradition proceedings fully complied with domestic law as well as European human rights standards.
The court rejected all three grounds of challenge raised by Choksi, including alleged violations of fair trial rights, claims of abduction, and apprehensions relating to prison conditions in India. (ANI)