challenging his extradition to India. Nirav Modi, facing charges in the ₹6,498 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, filed the application last month. Speaking to News18, sources said, “The fresh application was submitted last month.” They also said, “Officials and the legal team are preparing to respond to the petition in London.”
This development comes at a time when the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recently inspected India’s Tihar Jail. This visit is believed to have been undertaken to assess prison conditions post-extradition. Nirav Modi was arrested in March 2019 on the basis of an extradition warrant, and in April 2021, the then UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel, signed the order for his extradition to India.
Nirav’s legal team argues that his physical and mental condition could deteriorate while in prison. They sought bail, arguing, “There are risks of physical and mental deterioration in prison,” but the court rejected this, stating, “These concerns did not outweigh the possibility that Nirav Modi remains a flight risk.”
In May, the UK High Court also rejected Nirav Modi’s bail plea. He is the main accused in the ₹13,000 crore PNB scam, of which ₹6,498.20 crore is directly linked to him. He orchestrated this scam with his uncle, Mehul Choksi.
Nirav Modi faces three separate criminal cases in India. The first case relates to fraud registered by the CBI in the PNB scam, the second relates to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into money laundering, and the third relates to the tampering of evidence and witnesses in the CBI investigation.
Earlier, on November 9, 2022, the UK High Court rejected Nirav Modi’s final appeal and approved his extradition to India, upholding the decision of the Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The court also denied him permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court.
All eyes are now on the outcome of this new petition filed in the Westminster Court and whether Nirav Modi’s extradition will be postponed once again.
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