Indian diamond billionaire Nirav Modi loses appeal against extradition from UK - CNN

London CNN  — 

A London tribunal connected Wednesday rejected an entreaty from Indian billionaire Nirav Modi against his extradition from the United Kingdom to India to look charges of fraud and wealth laundering.

British constabulary arrested the diamond trader successful 2019 successful London implicit his alleged engagement successful a slope fraud that could beryllium worthy $2 billion.

Modi’s lawyers past twelvemonth challenged a tribunal bid allowing the British authorities to extradite the fugitive businessman, citing his intelligence wellness and hazard of suicide.

London’s High Court dismissed the entreaty connected Wednesday, saying Modi’s hazard of termination does not regularisation retired his extradition.

Justice Jeremy Stuart-Smith, 1 of the 2 judges, said that they were “far from satisfied that Mr Modi’s intelligence information and the hazard of termination are specified that it would beryllium either unjust oregon oppressive to extradite him,” according to the tribunal ruling.

“On the ground of the assurances that the (Indian government) has given, we judge that determination volition beryllium suitable aesculapian proviso and an due program successful spot for the absorption and aesculapian attraction of Mr Modi, which volition beryllium provided successful the cognition that helium is simply a termination risk,” the judges said.

Modi’s alleged fraud archetypal came to airy successful 2018 erstwhile Punjab National Bank, 1 of India’s largest banks, reported fraudulent enactment astatine 1 of its branches.

India past issued an Interpol Red Notice for Modi’s apprehension and London authorities were asked to execute it. The Indian overseas ministry said successful a connection astatine the clip that it welcomed the arrest, and would question to extradite Modi arsenic soon arsenic possible.

Modi and officials astatine the slope allegedly issued fraudulent Letters of Undertakings to overseas banks to get buyer’s credit, according to India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Forbes erstwhile ranked Modi arsenic India’s 85th richest man, with a nett worthy of $1.8 billion.

CNN has reached retired to his lawyer aft the court’s determination connected Wednesday but is yet to perceive back.

Modi, who remains astatine Wandsworth Prison successful London, tin situation Wednesday’s tribunal ruling astatine the UK Supreme Court.