First Look: Inside Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail Cell Meant for Fugitive Mehul Choksi

Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail Cell for Mehul Choksi

The first images of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail cell, where fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi will be housed after extradition, have been released. A Belgian court recently ruled that the crimes cited by India in Choksi’s extradition case are also recognised under Belgian law — paving the way for his return.

According to official submissions, Choksi will be lodged in Barrack No. 12, which comprises two 46-square-metre cells, each equipped with private toilets, natural lighting, ceiling fans, and a TV. The barrack has ample ventilation, CCTV surveillance, and round-the-clock police security.

The Indian government shared these images with Belgian authorities to counter Choksi’s claims that Indian prisons are unsafe and overcrowded. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) prepared six technical sheets titled “Prison Conditions Barrack 12, Arthur Road Prison, Mumbai” to highlight the safety and hygiene standards of the cell.

Arthur Road Jail, Mumbai’s high-security prison, is the same facility where 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab was held. The jail includes walking areas for inmates, mobile jammers, and strict surveillance protocols to ensure compliance with international detention standards.

Choksi, wanted in the ₹13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, continues to contest extradition in Belgium. The PNB scam — one of India’s largest banking frauds — involved fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) issued by bank officials, enabling Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi to secure unauthorised overseas credit.