Nirav Modi, a diamond merchant accused of fraud and money laundering in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB), experienced yet another setback in his legal battle against extradition to India. Nirav Modi was not granted permission by the London High Court to appeal against his extradition warrant before the UK Supreme Court. Modi argued that he might commit suicide if he was extradited to India. He has thus far denied all accusations of malfeasance in the PNB fraud case.
Nirav Modi left India in 2018 before information about his alleged involvement in extensive fraud at the PNB became public.
Nirav Modi’s request for an appeal against the extradition to India was denied by Lord Justice Jeremy Stuart-Smith and Justice Robert Jay, who delivered the judgement ruling at the London court.
“The appellant’s [Nirav Modi’s] application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court is refused,” the bench said. The High Court refused Nirav Modi’s application to certify a “point of law of general public importance.” The court also imposed costs of more than £150,000 (1.53 crore).
Nirav Modi lost his appeal in November on the grounds of mental health issues.
On the “risk of suicide,” Judge Jeremy Stuart-Smith had ruled that Nirav Modi could be kept safe at the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai, where he would be detained after being extradited to India. The judge said while the risk could be high, “the arrangements at the Mumbai prison will enable the authorities to cope properly with Mr. Nirav Modi’s condition.”
The London court’s ruling will help India’s efforts to extradite Nirav Modi there so he may be tried in the massive loan scandal case. Nirav Modi is accused of using credit guarantees for his diamond business to swindle Punjab National Bank, India’s second-largest bank, of about $2 billion.
