Nirav Modi files another appeal to stop extradition:British court has already approved to deport fugitive in ₹6,498 crore PNB scam

Fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi has filed a fresh appeal in a London court to stop his extradition to India. Officials from India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are currently in London to support the case against him. The Indian agencies are assisting the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is opposing Modi’s appeal. The CPS is an independent public body that handles criminal prosecutions in England and Wales. Nirav Modi has been declared a fugitive economic offender in India and is wanted in connection with the Punjab National Bank fraud case. He is accused of cheating the bank of more than ₹6,498 crore. Earlier, a UK court had already approved his extradition to India. So far, Modi’s bail pleas have been rejected around ten times. Senior advocate Swapnil Kothari said the scope for appeal is now very narrow. “Only limited grounds such as mental health concerns, fear of torture, or prison conditions can be raised,” he said. The CPS reviews evidence collected by investigating agencies and decides whether a case should be prosecuted, playing a key role in extradition proceedings in the UK. Also Read: Fugitive Nirav Modi again challenges extradition notice, cites possible ‘torture’ in Indian jail Why Nirav’s extradition matters for India? This case is not limited to Nirav Modi alone. It is a test of India’s justice system and legal strength. If Nirav Modi is brought back to India, the impact will be far-reaching. First, it will help in recovering nearly ₹14,000 crore lost by Punjab National Bank. Second, it will send a strong warning to other economic offenders who are living abroad, including Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya. Such a move will also rebuild public confidence in India’s banking system, which was badly shaken by the scam. At the global level, it will project India as a country that can successfully pursue and punish financial criminals, no matter where they hide. Experts say Nirav Modi’s fresh appeal is unlikely to succeed. British courts have repeatedly ruled that he will get a fair trial in India and that Indian jail conditions meet required standards. With strong groundwork already done by the ED and CBI, officials expect the court to dismiss the appeal once again. Meanwhile, India has informed the UK that Nirav will be kept in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, where there is no risk of violence, overcrowding, or ill-treatment, and medical facilities are also available. Agencies have assured the UK that no new charges will be filed against Nirav. Nirav imprisoned in London for 6 years Fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, 54, was arrested in the UK on an extradition warrant on March 19, 2019. In April 2021, then UK Home Secretary Priti Patel approved his extradition to India. Since his arrest, Modi has been lodged in a London prison for nearly six years. In India, the CBI is probing the multi-crore fraud linked to Punjab National Bank. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating a related money laundering case based on the proceeds of the alleged fraud. A third case has also been filed against Modi for allegedly tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses in the CBI investigation. Modi has exhausted all legal remedies, including appeals up to the UK Supreme Court. He has also sought bail several times, but courts have rejected his pleas, citing the high risk of him fleeing the country.