A UK court on Thursday ordered the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, after a nearly two-year-long legal battle, and accepted India's case that he threatened witnesses and tampered with evidence.
The Westminster Magistrates’ Court also accepted the prima facie evidence against Nirav Modi for money laundering. The UK judge said that the detention condition in India was satisfactory and that Barrack 12 in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail was considered acceptable as a place for detention. The court also found medical arrangements in India for Modi acceptable.
Fugitive diamantaire Modi is wanted on charges of fraud and money laundering in the estimated ₹11,400 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case.
The UK court said Nirav Modi will not be denied justice if he is extradited to India, also dismissing his 'mental health concerns', says they are not unusual in a man in his circumstances.
The extradition order will be sent to the UK Secretary of State Priti Patel to sign, after which Modi can be extradited to India. However, Nirav Modi is eligible to appeal against the decision in the high court.