India to ask UK to extradite Nirav Modi immediately
By Anish Kumar | First Published Feb 26, 2021, 9:35 AM ISTNirav Modi, who is wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering in the estimated $2-billion Punjab National Bank scam case, lost his legal battle against extradition from the United Kingdom on all grounds on Thursday.
After the Westminster Magistrate's Court in London announced that diamond jeweller Nirav Modi will be extradited to India to stand trial, the External Affairs Ministry said that the government will liaise with the UK authorities for his early extradition.
The court rejected the fugitive businessman's plea against extradition to India.
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Modi, who is wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering in the estimated $2-billion Punjab National Bank scam case, lost his legal battle against extradition on all grounds.
MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that since the Westminster Magistrate's Court has recommended to the UK Home Secretary for Nirav Modi's extradition, "the Government of India would liaise with the UK authorities for his early extradition to India."
At the request of the CBI and the ED, Modi's extradition from the UK was sought in August 2018. He was arrested and produced before the Senior District Judge at Westminster Magistrate’s Court on March 20, 2019.
Since then he is facing extradition proceedings while in judicial custody, the spokesperson said.
The final hearing, in this case, was held on January 7-8, 2021, while the Westminster Magistrate's Court in London on Thursday pronounced that he be extradited to India to stand trial.
"Dismissing the mental health concerns raised by Nirav Modi, the judge observed that Nirav Modi conspired to destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses," Srivastava said.
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