London court approves Nirav Modi’s extradition to India

London’s Westminster magistrate court gave its verdict on Thursday on the extradition of Nirav Modi, a fugitive diamond businessman in the Punjab National Bank scam worth Rs 14,000 crore. The court said that there is a case in India against Nirav Modi which he has to answer. The court said in its judgment that Nirav Modi conspired to destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses. The court also said that Nirav Modi would be provided with proper medical treatment and mental health care at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. Nirav challenged the extradition order against him in the court. On Thursday, after a two-year-long legal battle, District Judge Samuel Gooji ruled that there is a legal case against Nirav in which he should appear in an Indian court. By this order of the London court, even though the way of extraditing Nirav Modi to India is showing clear, but there is still some screw left in it. The reason is that Nirav Modi still has the option to challenge this court decision. Nirav Modi was arrested two years ago by the Scotland Yard Police of Britain from London on 13 March 2019, after which he is imprisoned in Wandsworth Prison in South West London. Nirav Modi appeared from Wandsworth Jail via video link to hear the verdict. Now the court’s decision will be sent to Britain’s Home Secretary Preeti Patel, who will decide whether to allow an appeal in the High Court in this case.