Nirav Modi extradition: Joint team of ED, CBI to leave for London soon

New Delhi: A joint CBI-Enforcement Directorate (ED) team will soon leave for London to assist local authorities in the extradition case of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi whose bail plea will come for hearing before a court there on Friday.

According to sources a Joint Director-level officer each from the CBI and the ED have been deputed to leave for London Wednesday with relevant documents pertaining to the case.

The ED officer will carry the latest charge sheet filed by the agency against Modi’s wife and the recent attachments made by it in the case. The Indian officials will meet various officers of that country, including those from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and brief them about the charges and fresh evidence against Modi, his family and others in connection with the case.

The 48-year-old diamantaire is accused of swindling over 2 billion USD from state-run Punjab National Bank in collusion with his uncle Mehul Choksi. He was spotted living in an upscale locality in London by a newspaper based in the UK. Nirav Modi was later arrested on the basis of the extradition request of India and a Red Corner notice (RCN) issued against him on the request of the CBI last year. He was produced before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week, wherein he contested his extradition to India.

District judge Marie Mallon denied bail to Nirav and remanded him in custody till March 29, saying there was substantial grounds to believe that he would fail to surrender if granted bail. UK home secretary Sajid Javid had certified India’s extradition request for the fugitive diamantaire earlier this month, triggering the legal process.