India’s evidence admissible, says UK court hearing Nirav Modi extradition plea

London, Nov 4 : A UK court hearing the extradition proceedings of diamantaire Nirav Modi has ruled that the evidence submitted by the Indian authorities to establish a prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against him is broadly admissible.
District Judge Samuel Goozee on Tuesday heard the arguments for and against the admissibility of certain witness statements provided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court here and adjourned the case for a two-day hearing on January 7 and 8, 2021.
Nirav Modi is wanted in India to face trial in the estimated Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud scam case.
The 49-year-old followed the proceedings via videolink from Wandsworth Prison in south-west London, where he has been lodged since March 2019.
He will next appear from prison, by videolink, for a regular brief 28-day remand call-over hearing on December 1.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian authorities, emphasised that the evidence, including witness statements under Section 161 of the Indian Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), meets the required threshold for the UK court to determine whether Nirav Modi has a case to answer before the Indian judicial system.