Endgame for Nirav Modi, UK High Court Rejects Bid to Re-Open Extradition Appeal to India

London: In a significant development in the high-profile extradition case of fugitive economic criminal diamond trader Nirav Modi, the London High Court has refused to entertain proceedings against the extradition order of Punjab National Bank (PNB) in connection with the alleged fraud of over Rs 13,800 million. In a remote ruling on Wednesday, the United Kingdom’s High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, District Court rejected Nirav Modi’s arguments that new evidence of potential torture and ill-treatment in India warranted reconsideration of his extradition.

Nirav Modi, who is accused of alleged money laundering in India, has been detained at HMP Wandsworth since his arrest on 19 March 2019. His extradition was first decided by the UK Home Secretary in 2021. The last application to reopen the appeal, filed on August 18, 2025, was based on the Supreme Court’s previous decision in the Sanjay Bhandari case. Nirav Modi’s lawyers argued that the verdict revealed that torture and ill-treatment had been used by authorities in India, which posed an unacceptable risk to the diamond if it were returned. However, the Court held that “it was not necessary to reopen this appeal to avoid genuine injustice” and that “the circumstances were not exceptional”.

The court’s decision was based on a set of “comprehensive, detailed and credible” assurances provided by the Government of India. These assurances culminated in a verbal note from the High Commission of India on February 12, 2026, clearly stating that the extradition of Nirav Modi was sought only for judicial proceedings in India. He was also assured that he would not be questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) or any other investigating agency. Indian officials also assured that Nirav Modi will not be transferred from Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai to any other prison in India and that fully functional video conferencing facilities will be available for court hearings. The judges stated that they were “satisfied with the good faith of the Government of India”, believing that the assurances were given “with every intention that they would be binding” and that “there is no intention of evading them”. Earlier, in another case of alleged money laundering, the Belgian Supreme Court had rejected Nirav Modi’s appeal against the extradition of his uncle Mehul Choksi to India. The court stated that the fugitive diamantaire’s objections were devoid of merit. The court found that Choksi had failed to provide any legal or factual justification for interfering with previous orders allowing his surrender.