Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Telangana unit welcomed the arrest of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi in Belgium, hailing it as another significant step in fulfilling the NDA government’s commitment to bring back economic offenders who fled the country after defrauding Indian banks.
Choksi, a key accused in the ₹13,000 crore Punjab National Bank scam, was reportedly detained in Belgium—where he had travelled for medical treatment—following a request from Indian investigative agencies under the bilateral extradition treaty.
“This is yet another promise fulfilled by our NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We said those who looted public money and ran away will be tracked down, and we’re delivering on that,” said N.V. Subash, Chief Spokesperson and Media In-charge of BJP Telangana.
Subash pointed out that Choksi is the second major fugitive after 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana—who was arrested in the US—to be cornered under the Modi government’s sustained diplomatic pressure and international cooperation mechanisms. India and Belgium recently operationalized their extradition treaty, and Choksi’s arrest is a direct outcome of that framework.
“The Modi government has shown zero tolerance towards corruption and economic fugitives. This is in stark contrast to the past Congress-led regimes which allowed such criminals to flourish and flee,” Subash said.
He criticized the Opposition for remaining silent or dismissive about the achievement, accusing them of harbouring “a guilty conscience.” “Instead of appreciating the Centre’s relentless efforts, the Opposition chooses to question every move. Their discomfort is a clear reflection of their own complicity in past financial scandals,” he said.
Reaffirming the Centre’s resolve, Subash said that efforts are already underway to ensure Choksi is extradited to India at the earliest and tried under Indian law. “The Modi government is committed to recovering every rupee looted from the people of this country. No fugitive, no matter how rich or powerful, will be spared,” he added.
The BJP also highlighted that the action reinforces public confidence in the system and sends a strong message to white-collar criminals that fleeing the country is no longer a get-out-of-jail-free card.
