Nirav Modi’s mental condition deteriorated? The judge had to speak during the hearing – keep showing gestures

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London: 49-year-old Nirav Modi, a fugitive diamond trader from Punjab National Bank (PNB) in a fraud and money laundering case, is fighting a case against extradition to India in a Westminster magistrate court. The hearing of the case of Nirav Modi, who was fighting a legal battle in Britain against extradition to India, once again focused on the condition of jails in India and his fragile mental condition. In such a situation, the judge also had to say – ‘Please keep showing some gestures.’

The third day of the five-day hearing, headed by Justice Samuel Goose, was dedicated to the defense, which argued against the prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against Nirav Modi. Nirav Modi watched the court proceedings via video link from Wandsworth Jail. Nirav is in the same jail since his arrest in March last year.

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Barrack number 12 conditions discussed in Arthur Road Jail
Most of the time during the Nirav Modi hearing, he was seen to be lifeless. In view of this, at one time the court stopped the hearing and asked to investigate whether the video contact has been lost. The court asked Nirav to show some gesture from time to time so that the court can be assured that he is connected with the proceedings.
Nirav Modi’s legal team led by lawyer Clare Montgomery once again discussed the conditions of Barrack number 12 in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail and claimed that a terrorist was stationed there. So he was completely covered. Along with this, apart from the heat in the barrack, there are other problems like moisture, dust, insects and spiders.

Nirav was the subject of ‘media trial’ – lawyer
During Wednesday’s hearing, Nirav Modi’s lawyers also claimed that his client had been the subject of a ‘media trial’ and that he would not have a fair trial in India. No decision, in this case, is expected by the end of the year or early next year as a December date has been tentatively set for the final hearing.

The defense had requested to allow retired Justice of the Indian High Court Abhay Thipsay to give his expert statement via video link in private which was turned down by the court earlier this week. After this, his written statement was presented in the court to assert against the admissibility of some evidence presented by the Government of India.

Thipsay’s testimony raises the question of whether the statements provided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) meet the ‘statutory requirements’ under Indian law.

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