New Delhi (NVI): The extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi to India has been approved by the UK Government. UK Home Secretary Priti Patel signed extradition order today.
Notably, the decision comes just ahead of the visit of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to India later this month.
Nirav Modi is accused of his involvement in the Rs 14,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud.
As per reports, he was engaged in the fraud at PNB with his uncle Mehul Choksi. His extradition was earlier approved by a Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 25. The court had then sent its findings to the UK Home department.
Modi is near to extradition process but still has the option of legally challenge it within 28 days before the UK High Court.
He has 14 days to apply for permission to appeal against the Home Secretary’s order in the High Court in London. At present, 50-year-old Modi is behind bars at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London, as per reports.
Earlier, a UK court had dismissing arguments from Nirav Modi’s side like mental health worsening during the pandemic and poor Indian prison conditions, news reports said.
The CBI had registered case against Modi, Choksi and others including the then officials of PNB, on January 31, 2018. The case was registered on a complaint from the Bank on allegations that the accused had hatched a criminal conspiracy amongst themselves to defraud the Bank by fraudulently issuing Letters of Undertaking.
-ARK
