Nirav Modi UK extradition appeal to be heard on December 14

London : Nirav Modi, the fugitive diamond merchant wanted in India to face charges of fraud and money laundering in the estimated USD 2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case, has lodged his appeal against extradition from the UK and the case will be heard at the High Court in London on December 14.
The 50-year-old jeweller, who remains behind bars at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London since his arrest in March 2019, was granted permission to appeal against the Westminster Magistrates’ Court extradition order on mental health and human rights grounds.
High Court judge Martin Chamberlain had ruled on August 9 that arguments presented by Modi’s legal team concerning his severe depression and high risk of suicide were arguable at a substantial hearing.
“This case is fixed for a one-day hearing on 14th December, a High Court official said, in reference to the substantial hearing.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which represents the Indian authorities in court, confirmed it will be contesting the appeal on behalf of the Indian government.
The appeal against District Judge Sam Goozee’s February ruling to send the case to the Home Secretary was granted leave to appeal on two grounds under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) to hear arguments if it would unjust or oppressive to extradite Nirav Modi due to his mental state and Section 91 of the Extradition Act 2003, also related to mental ill health.