Nirav Modi alleges beatings in UK prison, denied bail again

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Nov 7, 2019

Jailed jewellery tycoon Nirav Modi has threatened suicide should he be extradited to India, and has claimed to have been the victim of multiple assaults in prison, while his requests for bail have again been denied.

Modi threatened to take his own life should be be extradited to India to stand trial for fraud at his most recent court hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, UK, on Wednesday, TNN reported. The jeweller remains in UK custody and is awaiting his extradition trail which is planned for May, 2020. The trial could see him sent to India to stand trial for his accused fraud at the Punjab National Bank.

As Modi made his fifth bail application since being taken into police custody in March this year, his barrister Hugo Keith reported that he has faced assault three times in prison. “Just after 9am yesterday, two inmates entered his cell and while holding the door shut, punched him, pushed him to the floor, kicked him and made extortion attempts on him whilst he was on the phone to a colleague,” said Keith at the hearing, reported by TNN. “It was a targeted attack probably brought about by the renewed media coverage [of the case].”

Modi’s barrister suggested new bail conditions at the hearing including a doubled bail offer of £4 million (Rs 36 crore) and stricter security conditions including 12-hour security guards and 24-hour video surveillance. However, chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot denied Modi bail once again citing his previous behaviour. Modi’s next court hearing will take place on December 4.