Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi has lodged an application with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to stop his removal from the United Kingdom to India. The 55-year-old jeweller, wanted in the massive Punjab National Bank fraud case involving over one billion US dollars, made the move after the London High Court rejected his latest appeal on March 25.
The application seeks a Rule 39 interim measure, an urgent injunction that would prevent extradition while the court examines the case. Nirav Modi claims he faces an imminent risk of irreparable harm if sent back to India. His legal team argues that he has used up all options in the British courts.
A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the development. He said Nirav Modi is due to be removed but has now lodged the Rule 39 application to stay the process. The UK government will not carry out the removal while the European court considers the request. Indian agencies, including the CBI, had been set to take custody within 28 days of the March 25 ruling.
Extradition barrister Ben Keith explained how the process works. The application goes to a single judge in writing with no hearing at this stage. A decision usually comes within 48 hours, though the judge may ask the UK government for more information, which could stretch the timeline. There is no fixed limit for the full case, which can take three to five years if the interim measure is granted.
Rule 39 requests are not common successes. In 2025, out of 2,701 such applications, only 222 were approved. These measures do not decide the final outcome. They only aim to stop any immediate irreversible damage while judges look into claims of human rights violations.
The case has drawn attention because the European Court recently granted anonymity to Nirav Modi. This means the proceedings will stay confidential and out of public view for now. Reports suggest a hearing on the plea, along with submissions from Indian authorities, could happen within the next two weeks.
Nirav Modi has been fighting extradition for years from a prison in London. UK courts have repeatedly turned down his arguments in the past. The latest rejection closed the door on reopening his appeal in Britain, leaving the European route as his last legal option.
Indian authorities view the move as a delay tactic and expect the application to face tough scrutiny. They point to previous UK court decisions that accepted India’s assurances on fair treatment and prison conditions. If the European court rejects the request, it would remove the final hurdle for extradition.
The Punjab National Bank scam came to light in 2018 when Modi and others were accused of using fraudulent letters of undertaking to siphon off funds. The case led to major probes by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate. Nirav Modi fled India shortly before the fraud was exposed and was arrested in the UK in 2019.
For Indian investigative agencies, bringing him back remains a priority in the fight against economic offences. Successful extradition would send a strong message that fugitives cannot hide indefinitely by moving between countries.
The coming days will be important. If the judge grants the interim stay, Nirav Modi’s case will move to a deeper review on whether his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights would be violated. If turned down quickly, removal proceedings could restart soon.
This development keeps the long-running saga in focus. It highlights how complex cross-border legal battles can stretch over years even after domestic courts deliver clear rulings. Businesses and banks affected by the original fraud continue to watch for any progress that could help recover losses.
As things stand, Nirav Modi stays in the UK while the European Court reviews his urgent plea. The outcome could either open the path for his return to India or add more months of legal uncertainty to the case.