Nirav Modi’s Last-Ditch Effort to Block Extradition Fails in UK Court

In a major win for Indian authorities, the High Court of Justice in London has rejected Nirav Modi's application to reopen his extradition proceedings. The fugitive diamond merchant, who has been held in a UK prison since March 2019, was attempting to use a recent legal precedent (the Bhandari judgment) to argue that his human rights would be at risk if returned to India.

The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by the King's Bench Division, rejected Modi's eleventh-hour attempt to block his removal to India. Modi's legal team had filed the application based on the Bhandari judgment, a recent legal precedent, arguing that he might face ill-treatment in Indian custody and questioning whether the assurances provided by the Indian government regarding his human rights were sufficient.

However, the High Court remained unmoved. In its judgement, the court observed that the circumstances surrounding the reopened petition were not "exceptional" enough to warrant a fresh intervention in a case that has already undergone extensive judicial scrutiny.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has been pursuing Modi since the $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud came to light in 2018, hailed the decision as a major victory. The agency stated that the challenge was successfully overcome through the "sustained and coordinated efforts" of a dedicated CBI team and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Investigating officers from India reportedly traveled to London specifically to assist the CPS during the high-stakes hearing.

Nirav Modi has been held in a UK prison since his arrest in London on March 19, 2019. While his extradition was initially approved by UK courts years ago, the process was hampered by a series of appeals and a temporary legal obstacle that was only lifted in August 2025.

With this latest judicial rejection, the Indian government's efforts to recover the alleged Rs 6,498.20 crore lost in the bank fraud case have gained renewed momentum. The CBI noted that the positive outcome reflects a strong commitment to holding fugitive economic offenders accountable, signaling that the legal avenues for Modi to remain in the UK are rapidly narrowing.