India has submitted the first official photographs of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, specifically Barrack No. 12, to Belgian authorities. This is the facility where fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi will be kept after his extradition from Antigua and Barbuda.
The images are part of India’s official assurance to the Belgian court in response to Choksi’s claims that Indian jails are unsafe and overcrowded.
Click on ‘Read More’ to see more photos of the cell that will house Mehul Choksi
Barrack No. 12: Mehul Choksi’s Designated Cell
According to official documents, Choksi will be housed in Barrack No. 12, the same high-security prison complex where 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab was once kept.
The 46-square-metre barrack includes: Two rooms with attached sanitation facilities, private toilets and basic amenities and controlled movement, with permission only for medical visits or court appearances.
Choksi will be housed in Barrack No. 12, the same high-security prison complex where 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab was once kept. (Photo: Social Media)
The custody will remain under judicial supervision, not with investigating agencies.
Choksi’s lawyers argued before the Belgian court that India’s prisons are poorly maintained and unsafe. They also questioned the independence of India’s judiciary.
However, the court dismissed the defence. In its order, it observed: “Reports submitted by the person concerned relate to unrelated cases such as Sikh activism and Tihar Jail, and do not prove that Choksi faces any personal risk of injustice or mistreatment in India.”
The Indian government assured Belgian authorities that Mehul Choksi’s rights and health will be safeguarded. (Photo: Social Media)
The court further noted that extensive media coverage of large fraud cases is natural and does not imply bias or lack of fair trial.
India’s Assurance to the Court
The Indian government assured Belgian authorities that Mehul Choksi’s rights and health will be safeguarded.
“The person will reside exclusively in Barrack No. 12 and will only be moved for medical reasons or court hearings. He will be at the disposal of the judicial courts in India, not the investigating agency,” the note stated.
The 46-square-metre barrack includes: Two rooms with attached sanitation facilities, private toilets and basic amenities. (Photo: Social Media)
Officials also clarified that the Arthur Road Jail meets international detention standards and provides adequate medical facilities.
The Belgian court’s order has removed a key legal roadblock for India. By rejecting claims of political persecution and human rights violations, the court has paved the way for the extradition of Mehul Choksi to move forward.
