Priti Patel, the British Indian minister who signed off on Nirav Modi's extradition order to India in April 2021, has expressed shock that the fugitive jeweller remains in the United Kingdom. In an interview with 'The Daily Telegraph' podcast, she described the situation as a 'flagrant abuse' of the UK's legal system and said Indian authorities are 'hugely angry' over the delay.
Patel's Strong Reaction
'If our system were judicious and doing the right thing, rather than tying itself up in process and excuses, he should not be in this country,' Patel said. The shadow foreign secretary added, 'I’m actually pretty appalled and horrified that he’s still here, and I have to say, I suspect that really makes the India government feel quite demoralised about even working with us.'
The 55-year-old Nirav Modi is wanted in India for a USD 2 billion fraud at Punjab National Bank (PNB). He has been in a London prison since his arrest by Scotland Yard in March 2019. Despite exhausting all legal options in the UK, and reportedly losing a final appeal at the European Court of Human Rights, he has not yet been extradited.
Impact on UK-India Relations
Patel, who served as home secretary from 2019 to 2022, revealed that the case complicated diplomatic efforts with India. She said India 'would really push back' on accepting failed asylum seekers from the UK. 'I had a hell of a challenge getting them [India] to sign off on receiving failed asylum seekers... and I’m convinced it’s because we had this high-profile case [of Nirav Modi] and we had another high-profile case at the time and until they saw action and movement on those, guess what, they had some leverage over us, which was terribly frustrating.'
The delays have been attributed to multiple High Court appeals filed by Modi's legal team on human rights grounds, as well as a confidential political asylum claim. The asylum claim was reportedly denied, and an attempt to reopen the extradition case was rejected by the High Court in England in March 2023.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings in India
Nirav Modi faces three sets of criminal proceedings in India: a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to the PNB fraud, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case for alleged money laundering, and a third case involving interference with evidence and witnesses in the CBI proceedings. Patel emphasized that he should be tried in India, saying, 'Modi should be in prison in India and serving his time there, having gone through a legal process, which is exactly what UK extradition laws and treaties are about.'
She described the continued presence of Nirav Modi in the UK as 'an insult to British taxpayers as well.' The extradition order she signed was based on a prima facie case established in a UK court. The podcast series 'The Diamond King' recounts the newspaper's discovery of Modi hiding in a luxury London flat before his arrest.
As of now, Nirav Modi remains at Pentonville prison in north London, with his extradition believed to be imminent following the exhaustion of legal remedies.
