A UK court on Thursday ordered the extradition of jeweller Nirav Modi who was wanted for fraud and money laundering in the ? 14,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.
The UK Court order comes after a nearly two-year-long legal battle and accepted the Indian case that he threatened witnesses and tampered with evidence.
District Judge Samuel Goozee at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court also accepted the prima facie evidence against Modi for money laundering.
“Many of these are a matter for trial in India. I am satisfied again that there is evidence he could be convicted,” the court said.
The magistrate said that the detention condition in India was satisfactory and that Barrack 12 considered acceptable as place for detention.
“Conditions in Barack 12 look far better than his current cell in London,” the court said.
The court also found medical arrangements in India for Modi acceptable.
The 49-year-old was expected to appear via video link from Wandsworth Prison in south-west London at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where District Judge Samuel Goozee handed down his judgment on whether the jeweller has a case to answer before the Indian courts.
The Judge said they have received 16 volumes of evidence from India.
The magistrates’ court ruling will be sent back to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel for a sign-off, with the possibility of appeals in the High Court on either side depending on the outcome.