The fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi is likely to be extradited to India on November 23, according to the national media reports. Based on his extradition, India sent a letter of assurance to the United Kingdom, which it said that if the fugitive diamantaire is not “interrogated or taken into custody by any agency” and “will only face trial” on his return.
The letter also highlighted that India expects the court, which accepted a plea from Nirav Modi seeking to reopen his extradition proceeding dismiss Nirav Modi’s plea at the first hearing itself based on this letter. It also mentions that Nirav Modi will be housed in Arthur Road prison in Mumbai, where living conditions for inmates are better.
The letter was sent jointly by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), ED (Enforcement Directorate), SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigation Office), and Customs and Income Tax departments. A senior government official said India has sent a letter of assurance from five investigative agencies, clarifying that if Nirav Modi is extradited, he will face trial only for fraud and money laundering — the offences cited in the original extradition order.
The assurance, which serves as a sovereign guarantee, also states that Modi will neither be detained nor questioned by any other agency. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London is expected to submit this assurance before the court. The fugitive businessman had filed an application in the Westminster Court challenging his extradition to India earlier this September. He faces charges related to the ₹6,498 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud.
The UK High Court had cleared Nirav Modi’s extradition to India, rejecting his final appeal. The decision, issued on November 9, 2022, upheld a previous ruling by Westminster Magistrates’ Court and dismissed Modi’s request to escalate the case to the UK Supreme Court. Earlier in May, the UK High Court rejected a bail plea of Nirav Modi, accused in the Rs 13,000 crore PNB fraud, which he orchestrated with his uncle Mehul Choksi. Nirav is accused of siphoning off Rs 6498.20 crore of the total scam amount. There are three separate criminal proceedings against Nirav in India
