
The UK Extradition judge on Thursday ruled that fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi has a case to answer for in India. He also ruled that Nirav Modi conspired to destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses. The court sent Nirav Modi extradition order to the Secretary of State.
Wanted diamond merchant Nirav Modi, who remains behind bars in a London prison as he contests his extradition to India on charges of fraud and money laundering in the estimated $2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case, will find out the UK court’s ruling in the nearly two-year-long legal battle on today. The 49-year-old is expected to appear via videolink from Wandsworth Prison in south-west London at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where District Judge Samuel Goozee is set to hand down his judgment on whether the jeweller has a case to answer before the Indian courts.
The judge, who had said that Modi has a case to answer for in India, said that the jeweller would not be denied justice if he is extradited to India. District Judge Samuel Goozee ruled that Modi had conspired to destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses, the report said. The court also said that it was satisfied there is evidence that Modi could be convicted and that there were clearly links between him and other connivers including officials of PNB, reported NDTV.
“Many of these are a matter for trial in India. I am satisfied again that there is evidence he could be convicted. Prima facie there is a case of money laundering.”
– District Judge Samuel Goozee
“Nirav Modi will not be denied justice if he is extradited to India,” the UK Extradition judge ruled. “Nirav Modi will be given adequate medical treatment and mental health care at Arthur Road Jail, Mumbai,” he added. There is no risk of suicide for Nirav Modi if he is sent to India as he will have access to adequate medical care at Arthur Road jail, says UK judge.
The magistrate said that the detention condition in India was satisfactory and that Barrack 12 considered acceptable as a place for detention. “Conditions in Barack 12 look far better than his current cell in London,” the court said. The court also found medical arrangements in India for Modi acceptable.
The judge at Westminster Magistrate’s Court accepts money laundering charges against Nirav Modi. The UK court also accepted the Indian case that he threatened witnesses and tampered with evidence. The court sent Nirav Modi extradition order to the Secretary of State.
UK Extradition judge rules Nirav Modi conspired to destroy evidence and intimate witnesses. It is dismissed that Nirav Modi’d ‘mental health concern’ are unusual in a man in such a circumstance. UK judge dismisses Nirav Modi defence claims that Law & Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tried to influence the case against the billionaire.