Nirav Modi's 10th Bail Plea Rejected by UK Court Amid Strong Opposition from Indian Agencies
London, UK: The London High Court has dismissed yet another bail request by fugitive Indian diamond trader Nirav Modi, marking the tenth time he has sought release since his arrest in 2019. Justice Michael Fordham of the Royal Courts of Justice denied the latest application, reinforcing earlier judicial findings that there is a substantiated prima facie case against Modi.
The 54-year-old businessman, wanted in India for his central role in a ₹13,800 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, submitted his latest plea after a UK court approved his extradition to India.
"UK courts have twice reviewed the evidence and concluded that serious allegations are supported by a substantiated prima facie case," stated Justice Fordham, also citing concerns over evidence tampering and witness interference.
Background and Charges
Nirav Modi was arrested in the UK in March 2019 after Indian agencies filed multiple cases against him and his uncle Mehul Choksi in 2018 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He was declared a fugitive economic offender in December 2019, with properties seized during the ongoing probe.
The UK court noted that Modi allegedly orchestrated the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking from PNB to siphon off over $1 billion through overseas banks. The defense has not denied the fund transfers but claimed legitimate business reasons behind them.
Further evidence presented included the destruction of a mobile phone in 2018 and the deletion of data from a Dubai-based server while Modi was already in the UK.
CBI Welcomes UK Court's Decision
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) welcomed the ruling, confirming that the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice had rejected Modi's renewed bail plea. The Crown Prosecution Service, supported by CBI officials in London, strongly opposed the application
"Nirav Deepak Modi has remained in UK custody since March 19, 2019. His repeated bail attempts—this being the tenth—have been systematically challenged and thwarted with the Crown Prosecution's assistance," said a CBI spokesperson.
The agency reiterated that Modi is wanted in connection with a ₹6,498.20 crore fraud case involving PNB and remains a key figure in one of India's biggest banking scandals.
