Nirav Modi seeks to reopen extradition trial in UK, cites interrogation fears

Fugitive jeweller Nirav Modi has asked the Westminster Court in London to reopen his extradition trial on November 23 , claiming he could be interrogated by Indian agencies if sent back. Indian officials dismissed this claim, saying all investigations against him are complete, chargesheets have been filed, and there is no need to question him further . “We only need him to face trial. If the UK court asks, we will repeat our assurance that he will not be interrogated on return,” an official said.

The Indian government has also sent a fresh assurance to UK authorities, promising that Nirav will only stand trial for the fraud and money laundering charges already filed . He will not face new charges, nor be interrogated or taken into custody by other agencies. Nirav Modi is accused of siphoning off ₹6,498 crore from Punjab National Bank using fraudulent Letters of Undertaking. Both the CBI and ED are handling the fraud, laundering, and evidence-tampering cases against him.

India has told the UK that if extradited, he will be kept in Barrack 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail , which is safe, not overcrowded, and has medical facilities.

Once a star in the global jewellery business, Nirav Modi was arrested in London on March 19, 2019 . His extradition was approved by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in April 2021 , but he has stayed in a UK jail for nearly six years, with repeated bail pleas rejected due to his high risk of fleeing. He faces three criminal cases in India: CBI’s Punjab National Bank fraud case, ED’s money laundering case, and allegations of tampering with evidence and witnesses in the CBI case.

Under the India–UK Extradition Treaty (1992) , a person can only be extradited for crimes recognised in both countries and must be tried or punished only for the offences for which extradition is granted . India is required to provide assurances that the person will receive fair treatment, humane prison conditions, and access to medical care , and will not be interrogated or charged with other offences unless the UK permits. This “rule of specialty” is explicitly mentioned in Article 14 of the treaty , which states: “The person extradited shall not be detained, prosecuted, or punished in the requesting State for any offence committed prior to extradition other than the one for which extradition has been granted, except with the consent of the requested State.”

Nirav Modi is facing extradition proceedings in the UK as India has formally requested the UK government to extradite him so he can face trial for fraud and money laundering related to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.