PNB Scam: UK High Court rejects Nirav Modi appeal against extradition to India

The High Court of Justice in London on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi against his extradition to India in relation to the ₹14,000 crore Punjab National Bank Scam (PNB Scam), PTI reports..The verdict was delivered by Lord Justice Jeremy Stuart-Smith and Justice Robert Jay.The leave to appeal before the High Court had been granted on two grounds – under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) to hear arguments if it would “unjust or oppressive” to extradite 51-year-old Modi due to his mental state and Section 91 of the Extradition Act 2003, also related to mental health."...we are far from satisfied that Mr Modi's mental condition and the risk of suicide are such that it would be either unjust or oppressive to extradite him," the judges reportedly held..Modi was charged with conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by threatening to kill Ashish Lad, one of the directors of his company.He is subject to two sets of criminal proceedings in relation to the PNB Scam, one before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and another by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)..The first request for extradition of Modi was tabled by the Indian government on July 27, 2018. The Westminster Magistrate's Court in the United Kingdom allowed the extradition of Modi to India in February 2021.The Court noted at the time that there is 'prima facie' case of money laundering against Modi,"Having found a prima facie case on the conspiracy, for the sake of brevity, I am not going to embark on setting out the full evidence relied on within the ED request and my evaluation thereof. It is a point conceded by those representing NDM and I find there is prima facie case of money laundering," the order said.Following this ruling, the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel approved his extradition in early April 2021.Further, in June 2021, the High Court of England and Wales rejected his application against his extradition..Modi continues to remain behind bars at Wandsworth Prison in London since his arrest in March 2019.