The Westminster Magistrates Court will hear the extradition case on charges of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the next 5 days.
Nirav Modi. (Photo: Reuters)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Nirav Modi’s extradition trial to begin in London on Monday
- The hearing will go on for the next five days
- He is expected to appear through video conferencing before the court from prison
Diamantaire Nirav Modi’s extradition trial in connection with the Rs 13,000 crore bank fraud case will begin before the London court from today.
The Westminster Magistrates Court will hear the extradition case on charges of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the next 5 days. The hearing will start after 2 pm IST (Indian Standard Time).
Fugitive Nirav Modi, the 49-year-old diamond trader, is expected to appear through video conferencing before the court from Wandsworth prison in London, which is under lockdown due to coronavirus crisis.
A team of officials from CBI and ED are in constant touch with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which is representing India before the London court. Due to lockdown in both the countries, the Indian officials were unable to fly to London.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have requested UK authorities to extradite Nirav Modi to India to face trial in Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case.
The 49-year-old diamond trader has been lodged in Wandsworth Prison in south-west London since his arrest in March 2019.
Indian agencies through Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have also pressed additional charges, including intimidating witnesses and destruction of evidence, against Nirav Modi to make the case stronger.
CBI’s request of extradition is based on the criminal charges (fraud, cheating, criminal conspiracy, intimidating witness and destruction of evidence) whereas ED’s request on the charges of money laundering.
The Indian agencies had earlier alleged that on the instructions of Nirav Modi, mobile phones of his associates were destroyed and he threatened to kill a witness if he goes against him.
The bail application of Nirav Modi has been rejected 5 times by the London court. The Indian agencies are hopeful that based on the strong evidence against Nirav Modi, he will be extradited to India.