LONDON: The London High Court on Wednesday said that India is a friendly country and the UK should not find fault with the Indian government’s assurances that diamantaire Nirav Modi was arrested on Mumbai’s Arthur Road during a fraud and money laundering case. Adequate medical care will be provided in the jail.
Nirav Modi (51) has filed an appeal against his extradition to India in the USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan scam case, on the second day of the hearing, a two-judge bench took note of the submissions that There is a high possibility that Nirav may commit suicide due to his depressed condition. The court reserved its verdict after two days of hearing Nirav Modi’s appeal. The court said that the verdict will be pronounced at the earliest.
During the hearing, Nirav’s defense claimed that his depression would worsen if he was sent to the “unfavorable environment” of India. The defense said that political leaders in India have already projected Nirav as a “bad person” by declaring him a criminal. At the same time, the press has shown an “acrimonious” attitude towards him and people have “burned his effigies”.
Judge Jeremy Stuart-Smith told defense attorney Edward Fitzgerald: “The Indian government’s assurances should reasonably be looked at and should not be flawed.” “Your client may feel that assurances are not enough, but we should take a positive approach,” he added. Judge Robert J., said India is a “friendly country” in terms of the India-UK extradition treaty signed in 1992, and “we must comply with our obligations relating to the treaty”.
Fitzgerald said he took a serious look at the assurances and found that while the judiciary in India is independent, the executive does not always follow the rule of law. “It is not as if there is a long history of full cooperation… There have been cases where the court found that the respondent should not be extradited to India,” he said. Prosecution lawyer Helen Malcolm, appearing for the Government of India, said, “This is a very hot matter in India and there will be a lot of eyes on the Government of India, Nirav Modi’s care.”
