UK High Court Denies Bail To Nirav Modi Who Was Arrested In Connection With Rs 17,000-Crore Punjab National Bank Scam

Fugitive businessman Nirav Modi’s fourth attempt to secure bail in an ongoing extradition case failed after a judge of the High Court of England and Wales stated that there is compelling evidence that he has sought to interfere with witnesses.

Modi who was arrested in connection with the Rs 17,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, has been contesting his extradition to India. He has been lodged in Wandsworth Prison in South-West London ever since his bail was denied in March this year.

The verdict denying him bail was passed by Judge Ingrid Simler who heard arguments made by Modi’s counsel and lawyers for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Earlier, Modi’s Barrister Clare Montgomery reportedly argued that her client Modi was not the cold blooded criminal he was made out to be by the Indian government.

Modi had approached the United Kingdom High Court after being denied bail by the magistrate’s court on three previous occasions.

The court had issued a warrant for Modi’s arrest in response to a request from India’s Enforcement Directorate.

District Judge Marie Elizabeth Mallon had earlier denied bail though Nirav Modi was ready to put up a 500,000-pound bail bond.

On May 30, Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London had extended his remand until June 27. The Court of Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot had passed the order during a case management hearing held on that date.

The judge had also asked the Indian government to provide information on which prison he will be held at, within 14 days.

Meanwhile, authorities at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail have kept a cell ready for the fugitive diamond merchant.

According to media reports, Nirav Modi will join another fraud accused Vijay Mallya in the same Arthur Road Jail cell, if they both get extradited by the United Kingdom to India.