NEW DELHI: UK extradition judge orders fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi to be extradited to India to stand trial on February 25.
It is to be mentioned that Nirav Modi was most wanted for fraud and money laundering in the Rs 14,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.
"I am satisfied that Nirav Modi's extradition to India is in compliance per human rights," UK District Judge Samuel Goozee said, adding that he had the right to appeal the order.
"There is no evidence that if extradited Nirav Modi will not get justice," the judge said, agreeing with the submissions of the Indian government.
The case will now be sent to UK home secretary Priti Patel, who will take a final call on the extradition. If the extradition is approved, Nirav Modi will have the option to challenge it in the UK high court.
The 49-years-old diamond merchant who is currently lodged in Wandsworth Prison in south-west London appeared via video conferencing at the Westminster Magistrates' Court today.
It is to be mentioned that Nirav Modi was arrested on an extradition warrant on March 19, 2019.
Nirav Modi is the subject of two sets of criminal proceedings, with the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI case relating to a large-scale fraud upon PNB through by obtaining illegal letters of undertaking or loan agreements, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case relating to the laundering of the proceeds of that fraud. He also faces two additional charges of evidence tampering and intimidating witnesses, which were added to the CBI case.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has also submitted an updated video recording of the cell to highlight that it meets all human rights requirements of natural light and ventilation of the prison conditions at Barrack 12 in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where Nirav Modi is to be held.