Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, who's facing extradition to India for nearly USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case, appeared on Thursday at the Westminster Magistrates Court before Judge Tan Ikram, for his remand hearing via a videolink from Wandsworth prison. He will appear again for his next remand hearing on 30 January 2020 by a videolink from the prison. Modi was wearing a grey sweatshirt with white and black design, but was clean shaven, though his face appeared a bit puffy. Modi was represented by barrister Jessica Jones of Matrix Chambers.
Modi was declared a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act on December 5, 2019. Modi is the second businessman after Vijay Mallya to be declared a fugitive economic offender under the provisions of the new act, which came into existence in August last year.
His extradition hearing is expected to be on 11 May 2020 for 5 days. Judge Ikram therefore asked if there were any other issues to be discussed on Thursday, to which both Modi and Jones both said no.
Modi has tried for bail several times and even appealed against rejections, but still haven’t been successful, and therefore remains imprisoned in Wandsworth prison. The court on a previous hearing was told that Nirav Modi was suffering from depression and anxiety, and had allegedly faced attacks from jail inmates and the defence had also expressed concerns over Modi's medical condition being leaked to the press.
