Nirav Modi seeks to appeal UK High Court extradition order

The only remedy left for wanted diamond merchant Nirav Modi to prevent his extradition to India is to seek permission to appeal against his order in the UK’s top court, an Indian legal expert has said.

Nirav Modi has filed an application in the High Court in London, seeking permission to appeal against his extradition order in the Supreme Court in London, two weeks after the High Court dismissed his plea against extradition to India to face charges of fraud and money laundering.

"He (Nirav Modi) will be approaching the Supreme Court that is the only remedy left. Even before he goes to the Supreme court, he will have to take leave from the High Court of the UK to have a determination on the point that the issue involved is of very high public importance. Only then he can approach the Supreme Court, that too within 14 days," said advocate Arpit Batra.

On November 9, Nirav Modi lost his appeal against extradition to India on mental health and suicide risk grounds and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) later welcomed the decision of the UK High Court's decision to reject Nirav's plea.

"India has been vigorously pursuing the extradition of economic fugitives so that they face justice in India. We welcome the decision of the UK High Court. We want to bring him to India as soon as possible," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during a press conference.

Nirav Modi, who is a prime accused in an estimated $2-billion PNB scam, had left India and has been lodged at Wandsworth Prison in London since his arrest in March 2019.

(ANI)