Nirav Modi set for remote extradition trial from May 11 in UK court

April 29, 2020 14:42

The five-day extradition trial of fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi will begin from May 11 in a part-remote setting, a UK court has ordered. Modi is fighting his extradition to India over the nearly USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank fraud and money laundering case. The 49-year-old, who has been lodged at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London since his arrest last year, appeared before the court via video conferencing due to the social distancing procedures put in place across the UK courts in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during the hearing, which took place at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. District Judge Samuel Goozee, who presided over the case management hearing, expressed some reservations about the extradition hearing going ahead next month as scheduled under the current lockdown. But it was agreed between all the parties that a trial run of the court's CVP (Common Viewing Platform) will take place during a lawyers-only hearing on May 7 ahead of the final hearing.

"Some prisons are producing prisoners in person, so I will direct Wandsworth Prison to produce Mr Modi in person for the trial from May 11. If that is not practicable, his participation by live link remains a backstop," Judge Goozee concluded.

It was agreed that a limited number of legal representatives will be present physically in court for the trial as witnesses give their evidence via videolink. Modi will be able to observe the proceedings either from the dock, if the prison authorities agree to a physical transfer, or via the judiciary's common viewing system from Wandsworth Prison.

The five-day hearing from May 11 relates to the Indian government's extradition request certified by the UK government last year. The case, filed by the CBI and the ED, relates to a large-scale fraud upon an Indian Public Sector Undertaking through the fraudulent obtaining of letters of understanding and the laundering of the proceeds of that fraud. -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

'Queen' vs 'Raja': Whom will Mandi elect

Clash of the two richest titans, a celebrity and a 'royal', is on the cards in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, known for electing erstwhile 'royals' maximum number of times.

Faf Defies The Law Of Physics!

Stationed at mid off, Du Plessis 'flew' with his right hand stretched out to pluck it out of the air. The 39 year old timed his jump to perfection as he was 2.3 metres off the ground when he grabbed the ball.

Phase 5: Rae Bareli, Amethi go to polls on Monday

Besides Defence Minister Singh (Lucknow), Minister of Women and Child Development Irani (Amethi), those in the fray are Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishor (Mohanlalganj) and Minister of State of Consumer...

Arrest warrant issued against Prajwal Revanna

The court issued the warrant in connection with the sexual assault case registered against Prajwal on Saturday in which his father and Holenarasipura MLA H D Revanna is also an accused.

Chithambaram takes sole lead in Sharjah Masters chess

At the end of the fifth round India's Aravindh Chithambaram is now followed by four players -- the Iranian duo of Amin Tabatabaei and Bardiya Daneshvar and Americans Hans Moke Niemann and Sam Shankland -- who all have four points each.