Big setback for Nirav Modi as UK high court rejects reopening extradition plea

Nirav Modi’s petition to reopen proceedings against his extradition to India was rejected on Wednesday by the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, in London, which ruled that the application did not meet the threshold of “exceptional circumstances” required to revisit the case. The court held that the grounds presented, including reliance on the Bhandari judgment, were insufficient to justify reopening the proceedings.

The decision marks a significant setback for the fugitive diamantaire, who is wanted in India in connection with the Punjab National Bank fraud case. The Crown Prosecution Service strongly opposed the application during the hearing, supported by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team that travelled to London, including key investigating officers.

The high court noted in its judgment that the circumstances cited in the petition were not compelling enough to warrant reconsideration of the earlier extradition order, effectively closing this legal avenue for Modi.

What was the case?

Nirav Modi has been fighting extradition to India over alleged involvement in the Rs 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank fraud, one of the country’s largest banking scams. He has previously exhausted multiple legal remedies in UK courts, including appeals against extradition orders and applications citing concerns over prison conditions and mental health.

The latest attempt to reopen proceedings was based on the Bhandari judgment, which Modi’s legal team argued had a bearing on his case. However, UK courts have consistently ruled in favour of extradition, finding that the evidence against him establishes a prima facie case and that his rights would not be violated if he were returned to India.


More updates to follow
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