UK Court Allows Nirav Modi to Reopen Extradition Appeal, India Prepares Response

A UK court has accepted a plea from fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi to reopen his extradition proceedings, a move that could delay his return to India where he faces charges of defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) of over ₹6,498 crore.

According to senior officials, Modi filed the application before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month, claiming that if extradited, he risked interrogation by multiple agencies and possible torture. The court has admitted the plea and issued a notice to the Indian government, though a hearing date is yet to be fixed.

India’s Response in the Works

New Delhi is now preparing a detailed rebuttal, which will be routed through diplomatic channels. “We will urge the court to dismiss the application, since the extradition order had already attained finality in 2022,” an official said.

The government also intends to assure the court that Modi, if extradited, would face trial strictly under Indian law and would not be subjected to unlawful interrogation.

Extradition Timeline So Far

• March 19, 2019: Modi arrested in London on India’s extradition request.

• February 25, 2021: Westminster Magistrates’ Court orders extradition.

• November 9, 2022: UK High Court upholds the order, also refusing him leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Until now, Indian agencies believed extradition was imminent, particularly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UK visit in July 2025, when a free trade pact was signed. A subsequent assessment of Tihar Jail by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service had also cleared the way.

The Case Against Nirav Modi

Investigators allege that Modi and his companies fraudulently obtained Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) from PNB to secure overseas credit worth ₹6,498 crore, part of a larger ₹13,578 crore fraud linked to his uncle Mehul Choksi. The funds were allegedly siphoned off through foreign entities and laundered via assets abroad.

Modi has been declared a Fugitive Economic Offender under the FEO Act, 2018. The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth ₹2,598 crore, of which ₹981 crore has been restored to banks. Legal efforts are also underway in the UK to repatriate overseas assets worth another ₹130 crore.

A Complicated Road Ahead

Officials admit the latest court decision has complicated matters. “We will make every effort to ensure this doesn’t escalate into a prolonged legal battle,” one said.