Fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi is likely to be extradited to India after reportedly exhausting all legal avenues in the United Kingdom, including an unsuccessful attempt to secure relief from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
According to documents accessed by News18 India, Modi approached the ECHR in April after exhausting appeals before UK courts. Sources said the European court did not grant him relief, leaving no further legal remedies to challenge his extradition.
With the legal process effectively complete, the UK government has reportedly begun the administrative formalities required to hand Modi over to Indian authorities. Diplomatic sources indicated that the extradition could now take place at any time.
Modi has been lodged at HMP Wandsworth in London since March 2019. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been seeking his extradition in connection with the alleged multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and a related money laundering case.
Also read: Nirav Modi’s brother Nehal Modi held in US for money laundering
The development comes after years of litigation in British courts following the extradition order signed by then UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in April 2021. Since then, Modi has filed multiple appeals and bail applications, all of which have been dismissed.
In March this year, he failed in a fresh attempt to reopen the extradition proceedings by arguing that he faced a "real risk of torture" if returned to India. Following that setback, he reportedly moved the ECHR seeking an injunction, but failed to secure relief.
Separately, the High Court in London recently ruled that Modi was liable to pay Bank of India more than USD 11.5 million, including accrued interest, under a personal guarantee linked to a loan extended to Dubai-based Firestar Diamond FZE.
Justice Simon Tinkler held that the guarantee was enforceable under Indian law and observed that Modi had been validly served with the bank's demand notice. The court also noted delays caused by prison authorities in producing Modi before hearings after his transfer between UK prisons.
Bank of India clarified that the commercial recovery proceedings were independent of the criminal investigations.
Modi continues to face three criminal cases in India, including the CBI's PNB fraud case, the ED's money laundering probe and a separate case alleging destruction of evidence and interference with witnesses.
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