Nirav Modi further remanded in UK custody, ED takes diamond consignments

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jun 12, 2020

Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, England, has remanded jewellery tycoon Nirav Modi in jail until July 9 at a call-over hearing. Modi will continue to prepare for his extradition trial in jail.

On June 11, Modi appeared for his call-over hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court via video-link, the Press Trust of India reported.

“The next hearing will be a similar video-link call-over towards the next stage of your extradition proceedings scheduled for September 7,” District Judge Samuel Goozee told Modi at the hearing.

While in jail, Modi is preparing for his upcoming extradition trial. Indian authorities hope to extradite Modi to India to stand trial for his alleged fraud at the Punjab National Bank. Along with his uncle and fellow jeweller, Mehul Choksi, Modi is accused of leading one of the largest-value frauds in Indian banking history. Modi is also accused of criminally intimidating witnesses and destroying evidence pertaining to the case.
 
Indian authorities have made two extradition requests against Modi. The first was addressed during what was to be his first extradition hearing in May. The hearing was postponed until September, when the second hearing was already scheduled for, after Indian authorities presented new information in the first extradition case. 
 
In India, the Enforcement Directorate received 108 consignments of diamonds, pearls, and other valuables worth Rs 1,350 crore ($182.8 million) on June 10, TNN reported. The goods were seized as part of the money laundering case against Modi and Choksi. Of the 108 consignments, 32 belonged to entities owned by Modi and the rest to Choksi.
 
“The ED officers were continuously engaged in discussion with various authorities in Hong Kong to bring these valuables back to India,” a senior officer told TNN.

“Various modalities were finalised and after completing all the legal formalities, these consignments have now been brought back to India.”