Nirav Modi’s next extradition hearing in PNB fraud case on April 28

A UK court has extended judicial remand of fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, fighting extrition to India on charges over nearly USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case, for a hearing to take place on April 28.

49-year-old, who has been lodged at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London since his arrest last year, appeared via videolink from prison for his regular 28-day call-over hearing before Chief Magistrate Emma Arbutht at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London.

“ case is next listed for a case manment on April 28, when he is to appear via videolink again,” a court official said. Modi’s legal team and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), representing Indian government in extrition proceedings, held a “lawyers-only” case manment hearing in case earlier on Tuesday, ahe of a five-day trial scheduled between May 11 and 15.

Most of legal cases in UK are switching to videolink and telephonic options where possible, with all new jury trials suspended amid social distancing rules in place to combat Covid-19 pandemic. UK’s Ministry of Justice has confirmed 207 prisoners in 57 jails have tested positive with 13 suspected Covid-19 related deaths. An extra 500 cells were being created following an anuncement of early release of up to 4,000 prisoners to ease overcrowding.

"We have robust and flexible plans in place to keep prisoners, staff and wider public safe based on latest vice from Public Health England," a spokesperson for justice ministry said.

Modi, whose Wandsworth prison is considered one of most over-crowded in England, h me a fifth attempt at bail in High Court last month, which was rejected as judge ruled that he continued to pose a flight risk.

Justice Ian Dove presided over bail hearing at Royal Courts of Justice on March 5, during which Modi appeared via videolink from Wandsworth Prison as his legal team offered a pack of "stringent" bail measures, including bail security of GBP 4 million, house arrest at his central London luxury apartment with a 24-hour electronic tag as well as a private security guard service and a strictly monitored access to ggets and telephones."My central concern of a risk of absconding are t obviated by measures presented," Justice Dove h concluded.

Modi was arrested on March 19, 2019, on an extrition warrant executed by Scotland Yard on charges brought by Indian government. During subsequent hearings, Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told that Modi was "principal beneficiary" of fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs) as part of a conspiracy to defraud PNB and n laundering proceeds of crime. 

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