Nirav Modi seeks bail claiming "anxiety and negative thoughts”

Nirav Modi, wanted by Indian authorities in relation to Rs. 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud, has moved to a court in London seeking bail citing “anxiety and negative thoughts”. This is the fifth attempt by the fugitive diamantaire to secure bail; he's currently lodged at Wandsworth prison in London. The 48-year-old businessman has moved another bail application to a court claiming that he is suffering from anxiety and has offered to be placed on house arrest. All his bail applications in the past have been rejected considering him a flight risk and the efforts to destroy evidence against him.

Appeared in court via video link earlier

Earlier this month, Nirav Modi had appeared through a video link for regular remand hearing at the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London where he was further remanded in custody till 11 November 2019. It means that Nirav Modi will once again appear through a video link for his hearing. This process would continue every 28 days as it is required by the UK law for those awaiting extradition trial. Nirav Modi's extradition trial is scheduled to take place between 11 to 15 May 2020.

The diamantaire who was once living around one of the most expensive localities in London – Oxford Street, has been in judicial custody since March 2019 after being arrested by Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant against him. He was arrested from a bank in central London while looking to open a bank account. Following his arrest, he was produced at the Westminster Magistrates' Court which rejected his bail plea and sent him into judicial custody. George Hepburne Scott who argued for Nirav Modi claimed that his client was a law-abiding person who had been paying his council taxes and had been living openly. In addition, Modi's barrister had put forward 4.5 crores for his bail application but the Court was not convinced.

Read: Nirav Modi to appear via video link for UK remand hearing

Read: Nirav Modi's brother Nehal gets Interpol Red Corner Notice in PNB scam

GOI advocate opposed his bail

Jonathan Swain who represented the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of the government of India opposed his bail plea arguing that Modi was a flight risk. He said that the crime involved huge amounts of money and was “sophisticated” in nature and that Modi would fail to surrender as he had “access to considerable means”.

District Judge Marrie Mallon after hearing the arguments concluded that while she took into account his cooperation and willingness, it was a high-value crime. She said that Modi had access to means, implying that there was a potential flight risk, hence she had substantial grounds to believe that Modi would fail to surrender. Nirav Modi's team has already made four bail applications since his arrest but has not been successful. The courts have held that Nirav Modi was a potential flight risk and also that attempts were made to destroy evidence related to the case.

Read: Nirav Modi's custody extended till 11 November 2019 in the UK

Read: Nirav Modi to appear for video link remand hearing from UK jail