PNB Scam: UK High Court rejects Nirav Modi appeal against extradition to India

The High Court of England and Wales on Tuesday rejected an application filed by fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi against his extradition to India in relation to the Rs 14,000 crore Punjab National Bank Scam (PNB Scam), PTI reports..A High Court official confirmed that the permission to appeal was "rejected on paper" on Tuesday.Modi is now left with an opportunity to make his case in an oral hearing at the High Court with a fresh “leave to appeal” application, which must be filed within five days, following which a judge will determine if it can proceed to a full appeal hearing..In relation to the PNB Scam, Modi was charged with conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by threatening to kill Ashish Lad, one of the directors of his company..The first request for extradition of Modi was tabled by the Indian government on July 27, 2018. Modi is subject to two sets of criminal proceedings in relation to the PNB Scam, one before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and another by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)..The Westminster Magistrate's Court in the United Kingdom allowed the extradition of Modi to India in February this year.The Court noted at the time that there is 'prima facie' case of money laundering against Modi,"Having found a prima facie case on the conspiracy, for the sake of brevity, I am not going to embark on setting out the full evidence relied on within the ED request and my evaluation thereof. It is a point conceded by those representing NDM and I find there is prima facie case of money laundering," the order said..Following this ruling, the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel approved his extradition in early April. .Nirav Modi continues to remain behind bars at Wandsworth Prison in London since his arrest in March 2019.