UK Court Rejects Nirav Modi’s Plea to Reopen Extradition Case

New Delhi/London, March 2026 : Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi has suffered a significant legal setback after the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division in London rejected his application to reopen proceedings against his extradition to India.

The case was presented by the Crown Prosecution Service, with support from a dedicated team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Indian agency’s team included investigating officers who travelled to London to assist in the hearing and provide necessary inputs.

Modi’s application was based on the precedent set in the case of Sanjay Bhandari, where a UK court had declined extradition to India on humanitarian grounds. In that case, Bhandari argued that he faced a risk of torture if returned to India, and the court accepted his plea.

Drawing parallels, Nirav Modi contended that he too could face similar risks if extradited. However, the CBI strongly opposed this argument, presenting counter-evidence and assurances regarding his treatment under Indian law.

In its ruling, the UK High Court stated that Modi’s plea failed to meet the “exceptional circumstances” threshold required to reopen an already decided extradition matter. The court observed that the arguments presented were insufficient and did not justify revisiting its earlier decision.

Nirav Modi is wanted in India in connection with the high-profile Punjab National Bank fraud case, one of the largest financial scams in the country. The case involves allegations of fraudulent issuance of bank guarantees to secure overseas loans, leading to massive losses for the state-run lender.

Modi had fled India in January 2018, shortly before the CBI began its investigation into the scam. He was later arrested in the United Kingdom in 2019, following which British courts approved his extradition to India.

Over the years, Modi has filed multiple appeals against the extradition order. However, UK courts have consistently upheld the decision, noting that adequate assurances were provided regarding his safety, prison conditions, and legal rights in India.

With the latest ruling, Modi’s legal options appear to be narrowing further, bringing him a step closer to being extradited to India to face trial in the multi-crore banking fraud case.