LONDON – Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, who is wanted in India in connection with the ₹6,498 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, has filed a new application in the Westminster Court, once again challenging his extradition to India. This latest legal move comes after a UK High Court ruling in November 2022 had rejected his final appeal and effectively cleared the path for his return.
According to sources speaking to News18, the fresh application was submitted by his legal team last month. The Indian government and its legal teams are now preparing to respond to the new petition in London. Officials are scrambling to prepare a formal rebuttal to prevent the case from turning into a lengthy legal battle.
The development is a surprising twist, as it was widely believed that all of Modi’s legal options in the UK were exhausted. The UK High Court had not only upheld his extradition but also dismissed his request to appeal to the UK Supreme Court. In his latest plea, Nirav Modi is understood to be arguing, citing testimonies, that he could face “torture” if extradited to India and interrogated by multiple agencies.
This new legal gambit comes just months after a significant visit by the UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to Tihar Jail in Delhi. The purpose of the visit was to inspect prison conditions, which is a crucial factor in UK extradition proceedings. The CPS reportedly gave a positive review of the facilities, which was seen as a major step forward for India’s case.
Modi, who has been held in Wandsworth prison since his arrest on an extradition warrant in March 2019, has consistently tried to argue against his extradition on humanitarian grounds. He has repeatedly cited concerns about his physical and mental health, but UK courts have so far maintained that these concerns do not outweigh the risk that he might flee if released on bail. His most recent bail plea was rejected by the UK High Court in May.
There are three separate criminal proceedings pending against Nirav Modi in India:
- A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case concerning the PNB fraud.
- An Enforcement Directorate (ED) case related to the alleged laundering of the proceeds from the fraud.
- A third case involving alleged interference with evidence and witnesses in the CBI proceedings.
The extradition order was initially signed by former UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in April 2021. Indian officials were confident that the extradition was imminent, but this latest legal maneuver by Modi’s legal team has once again introduced uncertainty and a potential delay to the long-running case.