Nirav Modi Faces Final Extradition Hurdle Cleared After European Court Rejects Last Appeal
Mumbai : Fugitive diamond businessman Nirav Modi appears to be closer to being extradited to India after the European Court of Human Rights rejected his final legal challenge against his extradition from the UK.
According to reports, Modi has now exhausted most of his legal options, leaving only administrative procedures before UK authorities can move ahead with his transfer to India. The development comes after several years of legal battles over his extradition request linked to the multi-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case.
Sources said that Modi had approached the European court after losing his earlier challenges in UK courts. His appeal was filed after the UK High Court refused to allow a further challenge to his extradition, stating that India had provided assurances regarding prison conditions and his treatment after being sent back.
The European court had kept details of his application confidential while reviewing the matter. However, with the latest rejection, legal experts believe there may be no major judicial obstacles left in the extradition process.
Another Legal Setback For Nirav Modi
The latest development comes shortly after another setback for Modi in the UK. A London court ordered him to pay more than $10.7 million (over ₹100 crore) to Bank of India over a loan dispute involving a Dubai-based company connected to his Firestar Group.
The court ruled that Modi was personally responsible for repaying the debt because he had provided a personal guarantee for the loan. The case related to a loan given to Firestar Diamond FZE in 2012, years before the PNB fraud case came to light.
Under the guarantee agreement, Modi had agreed to repay the amount if the borrowing company failed to clear its dues. The court ordered payment of the outstanding amount along with interest, taking the total liability above $10.7 million.
What Happens Next?
With the rejection of his final appeal, the focus now shifts to the UK authorities completing the remaining administrative process for extradition.
Indian agencies have been seeking Modi’s return to face investigation and legal proceedings in connection with allegations of financial fraud. The businessman left India in 2018, shortly before the alleged ₹13,000-crore PNB scam was uncovered.
The latest court decision marks a significant step in the long-running extradition battle and could bring Modi closer to facing proceedings in India.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
