Indian fugitive Nirav Modi has submitted a new appeal in a UK court to postpone his extradition to India, where he is facing allegations of defrauding a bank.
The London court has reportedly consented to consider his request, which may delay Nirav Modi’s extradition to India, a decision that the Indian government plans to contest.
Nirav Modi, who is accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) of Rs 6,498 crore, part of a larger Rs 13,578 crore fraud, with approximately Rs 7,000 crore associated with his uncle Mehul Choksi, has been detained at Wandsworth Prison on the outskirts of London since March 19, 2019. He was apprehended by Scotland Yard following an extradition request from India.
What arguments have Nirav’s lawyers presented?
According to a report by Hindustan Times, Nirav Modi’s legal representatives have contended that “if extradited to India, he will be interrogated by multiple agencies and may endure torture during such interrogation.”
“Nirav Modi, through his legal team, submitted an application to the Westminster court in the UK last month, seeking to reopen the appeal against his extradition to India. The court has accepted this application, and a notice has been issued to the Indian government,” a government official informed the outlet.
In May, a UK court denied bail for the fugitive for the tenth time, emphasizing Nirav Modi’s “very strong incentive” to evade returning to India due to the gravity of the economic crime allegations.
What measures is the government undertaking?
While the Westminster court has yet to schedule a date for the hearing of his plea, the government is prepared to take necessary actions should Nirav Modi’s extradition be postponed.
“We are drafting a comprehensive response, which will be communicated through appropriate diplomatic channels, countering his claims and urging the court to reject the application, as the extradition order had already reached finality in 2022,” a government official stated to HT.
The Indian government also aims to assure the court that, if extradited, Nirav Modi will be prosecuted strictly under Indian law and will not be subjected to interrogation by a
