London [UK], March 26 (ANI): The London High Court has refused to reopen proceedings challenging the extradition of fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi in connection with the alleged over Rs 13,800 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case.
The Divisional Court of the King’s Bench Division dismissed Modi’s claim that new evidence showed a real risk of torture or ill-treatment in India that would justify reconsidering his extradition. Modi, accused of money laundering in India, has been held at HMP Wandsworth since his arrest on March 19, 2019, and his extradition was ordered by the UK Home Secretary in 2021.
The August 18, 2025 application to reopen the appeal relied on the High Court’s earlier judgment in the Sanjay Bhandari case. Modi’s lawyers argued that that ruling indicated a risk of torture or ill-treatment by Indian authorities. The Court concluded it was “not necessary to re-open this appeal in order to avoid real injustice” and that “the circumstances are not exceptional.”
The decision rested on a series of “comprehensive, detailed and reliable” assurances from the Government of India, including a note verbale from the Indian High Commission dated February 12, 2026, stating Modi’s extradition request is solely for judicial trial. India also assured he would not be questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate or other investigating agencies; he would not be moved from Mumbai’s Arthur Road Prison to another facility; and fully functional video-conferencing would be available for court appearances.
Judges said they were “satisfied as to the good faith of the Government of India,” accepting the assurances were intended to be binding. With this ruling, Modi’s avenues to challenge his extradition in the UK appear exhausted, clearing the path for his return to India to face trial.
Earlier, Belgium’s Court of Cassation dismissed Mehul Choksi’s appeal against extradition to India, finding his objections lacked substance. (ANI)
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