The High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, London, rejected fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi’s fresh bail plea on Thursday (local time), news agency PTI reported.
Nirav Modi, who is wanted in India for his alleged involvement in the Rs 6,498.20 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, has been imprisoned in the UK since March 2019.
In a press release, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said, “Fresh Bail Petition filed by Nirav Deepak Modi was rejected today by the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, London. The bail arguments were strongly opposed by the Crown Prosecution Service advocate, who was ably assisted by a strong CBI team consisting of investigating and law officers who travelled to London for this purpose.”
It further added, “Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could successfully defend the arguments which resulted in rejection of the bail. Nirav Deepak Modi has been in a UK prison since 19th March 2019. It may be recalled that Nirav Modi is a fugitive economic offender who is wanted for trial in India in a bank fraud case by the CBI for defrauding Punjab National Bank for Rs 6,498.20 crore.”
Modi’s extradition to India has already been approved by the High Court of the UK, the CBI added, further stating that the fugitive diamond merchant has applied for the 10th time seeking bail. However, the CBI has defended its case successfully.
