The British government has approved the extradition of scam-accused billionaire Nirav Modi to India. On Thursday, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel signed the extradition order.
Nirav Modi, 50, is one step closer to extradition, but he also has 28 days to file a legal challenge in the UK High Court. As seen in the case of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who went to court to challenge his extradition order signed in February 2019, the process can take months or even years.
Previously, a Westminster court in the United Kingdom had granted the extradition request and referred the case to the Home Secretary.
In the 14,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan case, the jeweler is wanted by Indian courts for theft and money laundering.
In February, a UK court denied his extradition to India, dismissing claims such as his mental state deteriorating during the pandemic and inadequate Indian jail facilities.
“I don’t believe Nirav Modi was running a legal company.” The judge said, “I see no legitimate transactions and suspect there is a scheme of dishonesty.”
“Many of these cases are pending in India. I am once again convinced that there is enough proof to prosecute him. There seems to be a case of money laundering.
Nirav Modi, a famous jeweler of Indian and international movie stars, was apprehended in a London metro station in 2019 on an extradition summons. Since he was deemed a flight risk, he was repeatedly refused bail.
Nirav Modi is facing two criminal cases: a CBI case involving fraudulent letters of undertaking or loan agreements used to clear crores in loans to the jeweler, and an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case involving the laundering of the fraud’s proceeds. He is also charged with interfering with evidence and threatening witnesses, which were applied to the CBI lawsuit.
Nirav Modi said in a London court that he had a family history of depression and suicide and that the pandemic had made his psychiatric state “serious.” He also said that the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai, where he would be imprisoned, had inadequate conditions. However, the judge approved a videotape from the Indian government demonstrating that the jail complied with all human rights provisions for natural light and ventilation.
Modi is concerned about being prosecuted in India. Despite his suicidal feelings, India’s government assured him of safe conditions in prison in a video released in August. The judge said, “The video indicates improved sanitation and hygiene than the video from 2019,”
Officials at the Arthur Road prison insist they are prepared for Nirav Modi, regardless of how long it takes.
