UK Court refuses Nirav Modi's bail plea for seventh time

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Oct 27, 2020

As jewellery tycoon Nirav Modi awaits the verdict of his ongoing extradition trial in UK prison, a UK court rejected his bail application for the seventh time on Monday. 

 
Nirav Modi, accused of fraud at the Punjab National Bank among other crimes, will resume his extradition trial on November 3. The UK court decided on October 26 that he shall remain in Wandsworth Prison outside London until that time, denying his most recent bail application, ET Bureau reported. 
 
Modi has cited numerous reasons for requesting bail including his health but bail has been repeatedly denied as he has been deemed a flight risk. Reports of Modi destroying evidence in the fraud case have been cited as proof of his intentions not to comply.

When Modi’s extradition trial resumes once again next week, he will again appear via video link from Wandsworth prison, where he has been kept since March 2019, in part due to continued Covid-19 regulations in the UK. If the court rules to extradite Modi to India to stand trial, a lengthy appeal process will still be open to him.
 
While Modi’s lawyers represent the defence in the trial, the UK Crown Prosecution Service is representing the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate who seek to extradite Modi. As the ED awaits the verdict of the extradition trial, it has confiscated property from Modi in India, the UAE, and UK under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.