Antwerp: In a significant victory for Indian authorities, a court in Antwerp has approved the extradition of fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi to India, validating his arrest earlier this year and paving the way for his return to face charges in one of the nation's largest banking scandals.

The 66-year-old, accused of orchestrating a Rs 13,000 crore fraud at Punjab National Bank (PNB), now has 15 days to appeal the ruling before Belgium's Supreme Court, delaying any immediate transfer.

Choksi, arrested by Antwerp police on 11 April following a formal request from India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has languished in custody for over four months. His repeated bail applications were rebuffed, with the court deeming him a substantial flight risk.

During Friday's hearing,

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