Businessman Mehul Choksi: First Pictures of His Arthur Road Jail Cell Released

India has submitted the first official photographs of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, specifically Barrack No. 12, to Belgian authorities, where fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi will be lodged once extradited. The images were shared to counter Choksi’s claims that Indian prisons are overcrowded and unsafe, according to reports accessed by India Today.

Choksi’s Designated Cell

The 46-square-metre barrack consists of two cells with private toilets and basic facilities. Barrack No. 12 is a high-security unit within Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, the same facility where 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab was once held.

As per official documents, Choksi’s custody will remain under judicial supervision, not with any investigative agency. His designated cell includes two rooms and an attached washroom, ensuring compliance with international detention standards.

Belgian Court Rejects Choksi’s Defence

Choksi’s legal team had argued before a Belgian court that India’s prisons were in poor condition and that the judiciary lacked independence. However, the court rejected these claims, noting that “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 court further observed that media coverage of large financial fraud cases is natural and does not indicate bias or a violation of fair trial rights. It also concluded that Choksi had failed to provide any evidence suggesting he would face torture, an unfair trial, or denial of medical care upon his return to India.