Nirav Modi’s Last Legal Gamble: UK Court to Hear Extradition Plea on November 23
A London court will hear fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi’s latest plea on November 23, in which he has requested that his extradition case be reopened. Modi, who faces charges in India for his role in the multi-billion rupee Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, argued that if sent back, multiple investigative agencies would interrogate him, exposing him to possible mistreatment.
The Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London has scheduled the hearing that could prove decisive for Modi’s future. The proceedings will determine whether he is finally extradited to India or continues his long legal battle in the United Kingdom.
India Provides Assurances
India has strongly denied Modi’s claims and has given written guarantees to UK authorities through the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The assurance states that Nirav Modi will not face any fresh questioning and that his trial will proceed strictly under Indian law.
Officials have further confirmed that once extradited, Modi would be kept at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail in Barrack No. 12. The cell, according to India’s submission, meets international standards and is equipped with proper security, healthcare, and basic facilities.
An Indian government official clarified, “The charge sheets have already been filed, investigations are nearly complete, and only the court trial remains. If necessary, we are ready to reaffirm before the UK court that no fresh interrogation will be carried out.”
Nirav Modi’s Long Stay Behind Bars
Nirav Modi has been accused of defrauding PNB of over ₹6,498 crore by fraudulently obtaining Letters of Undertaking (LoUs). He was arrested in London on March 19, 2019, on an extradition warrant. Two years later, in April 2021, then UK Home Secretary Priti Patel approved his extradition to India.
Since then, Modi has spent nearly six years in British prisons. Over the years, he has exhausted almost all possible legal appeals. In 2022, he lost his last appeal in UK courts, and as recently as May 2023, his 10th bail plea was rejected on the grounds that he posed a flight risk.
Jail Inspections and Human Rights Concerns
In recent months, officials from the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service visited Indian prisons, including Tihar Jail, to inspect conditions. Such inspections are standard practice to ensure that individuals extradited from the UK will be treated in line with human rights obligations.
India has provided similar assurances in past extradition-related cases, such as that of Mehul Choksi, pledging that individuals would not be kept in solitary confinement and would be detained in humane conditions.
What Lies Ahead
The November 23 hearing is crucial for Nirav Modi’s fate. If the UK court rules against reopening his case, it will clear the way for his extradition to India, where he faces trial in one of the country’s biggest banking fraud cases. If, however, the court allows his plea, Modi may continue his legal battle in Britain—further delaying justice in a case that has already stretched on for years.
