The UK High Court has refused to grant bail to fugitive Indian businessman Nirav Modi for the eighth time, citing a continued risk that he may abscond or tamper with witnesses. Justice Martin Fordham delivered the ruling on Thursday, stating there are “substantial grounds” for believing Modi would not surrender if released, reports Times of India.
Modi has been held at Wandsworth Prison in London since March 2019, when he was arrested on an extradition warrant. He is wanted in India in connection with a massive $1 billion fraud case involving the Punjab National Bank. Despite repeated efforts by his legal team, UK courts have consistently denied his bail applications.
During the hearing, Modi’s lawyer Edward Fitzgerald KC argued that his client had been in custody for over six years, a period he described as “disproportionate” for an undertrial. He noted that all co-accused in India, including a key figure named Shetty, had been granted bail, and insisted Modi lacked the means or intention to flee due to frozen and confiscated assets.
Fitzgerald also raised concerns about Modi’s safety if extradited to India, pointing to previous cases involving alleged abductions or extrajudicial actions. He cited the examples of Christian Michel, Jagtar Singh Johal, and Princess Latifa to claim the Indian government’s reach was "practically limitless," and suggested that Modi would not be safe even if he fled to a remote country.
Justice Fordham challenged this argument, asking why Modi would be safer in the UK if the Indian government was as powerful as claimed. He also referenced Osman warnings — notices issued by UK police about threats to a person's life — as evidence that Modi remains protected in Britain.
Fitzgerald countered that alleged witness tampering occurred over seven years ago, and that there had been no incidents since. He attributed the long delay in extradition to a confidential legal matter ongoing since 2018.
Nicholas Hearn, appearing for the Indian government, argued that Modi’s fears were exaggerated. He questioned why Modi would resist extradition if he genuinely feared reprisal, suggesting the real motive was to evade justice.
The case against Nirav Modi has become one of the most high-profile extradition battles involving India. As proceedings continue, Modi remains in custody while the courts navigate the legal and diplomatic complexities surrounding his return to face charges.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
