Mehul Choksi, one of the primary accused besides Nirav Modi, in the Punjab National Bank fraud case, is back in the news. This time, the Indian government is taking another step to finally have him extradited from Europe and brought to India for his jail sentence.
The latest news related to him is the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sending a formal letter of assurance to the Belgian authorities about the conditions Choksi would be kept in the Indian jail and that they meet all international human rights standards.
But what is this jail where he would be kept, and how is it different from the others?
What Has MHA Told Belgian Authorities
Mehul Choksi, one of the prime accused in the ₹13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam of 2018, is currently facing extradition proceedings in a Belgian court. Choksi fled from the country in 2018 to the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda just a few days before the PNB scam unfolded.
Since then, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been trying to bring the 65-year-old fugitive jeweller back to India so he can face justice for his crimes.
Choski was arrested in Antwerp, Belgium, by the police on April 12, 2025, following an extradition request issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Apparently, reports revealed his location in Belgium’s port city, where he was said to be living with Preeti Choksi, his wife, who is still a citizen of the European country.
His extradition hearing will take place sometime in mid-September 2025, as per reports.
Now, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a letter dated September 4, 2025, and written by Rakesh Kumar Pandey, Joint Secretary, MHA, has assured the Ministry of Justice, Kingdom of Belgium, and Belgian judicial authorities that Choksi will be held in humane conditions, meeting all international human rights standards.
According to reports, the letter states that Choksi will be kept at the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, specifically in Barracks No. 12. This part is separate from the main jail complex, and most of its inmates are non-violent criminals, accused of economic offences.
Barracks No. 12 at Arthur Road Jail has a total capacity of six inmates, and currently has two cells vacant, one of which will go to Choksi if extradited. The low inmate count means that there is much more space for each person, resulting in less abuse and several other facilities. The barracks are also under constant 24-hour CCTV surveillance.
The letter also assures that Choksi will have access to full medical care at the jail and not be subjected to solitary confinement.
As per the letter, “There is a 20-bed fully equipped medical facility containing ECG and other equipment within Arthur Road Jail, further supported by a full-scale government hospital located less than 3 km away. The prison hospital has two general wards with a capacity of 20 beds, one psychiatry ward, one TB ward, and a dental facility. The prison has an in-house ambulance. Mehul Choksi will be sent for regular specialist consultations at the government hospital, if required.”
Choksi can also opt for private care if he wishes to do so, at his own expense. The barracks will allow Choksi to have a minimum of three square meters of personal space, not including furniture, with the cell having sufficient light and ventilation.
Read More: India’s Biggest Bank Scam, Bigger Than Nirav Modi One Revealed Today
Choksi will also be given a choice between a clean, thick, cotton mat, bedsheet, pillow, and blanket, or a wooden or metal-framed bed if his medical condition requires so.
The letter assured that his cell will be cleaned daily, given pest control, and have proper toilet and washing facilities. He will also be given clean drinking water and three meals a day.
The letter writes, “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.”
Outdoor time will be provided to him with the letter stating, “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.”
How Is Barracks No. 12 Different?
Arthur Road Jail, or the Mumbai Central Prison, is the largest and most high-security jail in Mumbai. Built in 1926 with a capacity for just around 804 inmates, the jail today is overcrowded with more than 3,000 inmates.
Barrack No. 12, however, stands out. It is a relatively isolated structure within the jail complex. Physically separated from other parts of the prison by high walls and additional security, the barrack has become the go-to facility for housing high-profile or sensitive inmates.
Originally just another wing, Barrack No. 12 was significantly upgraded in 2018, after Vijay Mallya’s defence team used the reason of the poor condition of Indian jails to stop his extradition.
It has since been used as a showcase to counter allegations of poor jail conditions in India and has housed some high-profile inmates like 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab, Star TV CEO Peter Mukerjea, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, and Vipul Ambani, another PNB scam accused.
A 2022 Hindustan Times report claimed that Parliament Member Sanjay Raut, who was arrested and placed in these barracks in August 2022, would “spend his days in the jail library, reading newspapers and tracking news on the big LED TV.”
Barrack No. 12 also has a dedicated Western-style toilet and shower, access to an outdoor open-sky yard for exercise and games, the jail’s library and newspapers, and even a 40-inch LED television.
The cells have natural light and ventilation, with inmates are served their food on melamine crockery and given a mattress, pillow, and bedsheets to sleep on.
Nationalist Congress Party’s Anil Deshmukh’s advocate Inderpal Singh, during his 2021 Enforcement Directorate arrest, stated how “Usually, an inmate gets tea at 7 am, breakfast soon after that, lunch at 11 am, tea again around 4 pm, and dinner around 8 pm.”
He added that “They (under-trial prisoners) have a monthly allowance of ₹4,500 that they can spend on food items like biscuits and snacks, soaps and shampoos from the jail canteen. Deshmukh has been allowed a bed due to his severe lower back-ache as he would not be able to sleep on the floor.”
A prison official was quoted by Hindustan Times saying that, “The cell has three fans, six tube lights, five ventilators and three windows for fresh air and natural light.”
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Hindustan Times, Mint, The New Indian Express
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