Highlights
- Nirav Modi is making various excuses to avoid extradition to India
- Nirav’s lawyers said in court – there is a danger of suicide in India
- Lawyers asked the British court not to believe the assurance of the Indian government
Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi is making various excuses in front of the British court to avoid being extradited to India. On Wednesday, his lawyers argued in the London High Court regarding the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. Nirav’s lawyers claimed that due to the widespread impact of Corona in Arthur Road Jail, the possibility of his client committing suicide would increase. Nirav is likely to be kept in this jail after his extradition to India.
Nirav Modi is wanted in PNB scam
Nirav Modi is wanted in connection with the $2 billion fraud from Punjab National Bank (PNB). Nirav, lodged at Wentworth Prison in south-west London, attended the hearing digitally. His lawyers made this argument while requesting permission to appeal against the extradition order passed by District Judge Sam Goose in February and approved by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in April.
Lawyers arguing for Nirav’s suicide
During the hearing of the fresh petition presented before Justice Martin Chamberlain, Nirav’s lawyers requested a full court hearing on the ground that extradition would not be appropriate in view of his mental state as he may commit suicide. Nirav’s lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, argued that Judge Goose erred in favoring his extradition in February. The judges came to the conclusion that Nirav’s severe depression was not unusual in view of his imprisonment and showed no tendency to commit suicide.
Lawyer said – Nirav’s mental condition is not right
Fitzgerald said the district judge erred in ruling that there was nothing abnormal in the mental state of the petitioner (Nirav) and that it was wrong to arrive at a result based on his current condition. Nirav’s lawyers referred to the report of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Forrester, which was earlier presented in the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London. Forrester had said in the report of 27 August 2020 that not at the moment, but there is a danger of increasing suicidal tendencies in Nirav.
Nirav Modi News: Another blow to Nirav Modi from the British court, dismissed the petition against extradition to India
Advice not to believe the assurance of the Indian government
The lawyers said that the health system was badly affected due to the Kovid-19 epidemic. On the extradition order of Home Minister Priti Patel, the lawyers argued that they should not believe the assurance of the Government of India. The hearing on this petition is likely to conclude on Wednesday after the arguments of the Crown Possession Service (CPS) and Home Ministry counsel on behalf of the Indian authorities against the permission of the appeal. After that it will be decided whether it needs to be heard in full at the High Court in London.
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