Nirav Modi to remain in jail as UK court adjourns extradition case till November 3

legal woes for fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi compounded on Friday after  Westminster Magistrates’ Court adjourned his extradition case till vember 3. This implies that he will remain in Wandsworth Prison where he has been languishing since his arrest on March 19, 2019. Modi had appeared before court via videolink due to vel coronavirus crisis. 

While adjourning matter, District Judge Karim Ezzat stated that extradition case had been part-heard. It is likely that court will determine admissibility of evidence provided by Indian authorities in  next hearing. Following this, re will be a final hearing for closing submissions after which a judgment in case is expected. 

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Arguments in court

Modi has been accused of being  principal beneficiary of fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking as part of a conspiracy to defraud Punjab National Bank to extent of Rs 13,570 crore. In December 2019, a special PMLA court in Mumbai declared him as a 'Fugitive Ecomic Offender'. first set of hearings that commenced in May  first phase of hearing pertained to establishing a prima facie case against Modi. 

During 5-day hearing in September, Crown Prosecution Service played videos in court showing manner in which Modi caused disappearance of evidence and intimidated witnesses. Arguing for Indian government, it provided assurance of adequate prison conditions including additional commitments of appropriate mental health care. This came after Modi's defence team cited  presence of rats, insects, uncovered drains and ise from slums near Arthur Road jail to claim that re is a risk to his human rights in jail. 

Led by Barrister Clare Montgomery, defence team tried to establish that Modi's actions related to PNB-issued letters of undertaking did t amount to fraud. Also, witnesses deposed highlighting alleged "fragile" mental health condition of beleaguered diamond merchant. It once again argued that Barrack 12 in Arthur Road jail did t meet UK court's human rights criteria.  

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(With PTI inputs)