PNB Fraud Accused Nirav Modi Tells United Kingdom Court That He Will Kill Himself If It Orders His Extradition To India

Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud accused diamantaire Nirav Modi has told a court in the United Kingdom that he will kill himself if the court ordered his extradition to India, claiming that he would not get a fair trial in India.

During the hearing of his bail application, he told the judge that he was beaten up “three times” in prison, but the court refused to grant him bail.

Nirav Modi appeared at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court with his barrister Hugo Keith QC, who made a fifth bail application.

Modi stands accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank of more than Rs 9,100 crore, is in custody ahead of his extradition trial from May 11 to 15, 2020.

Modi’s lawyer Hugo Keith claimed that his client was beaten up twice in Wandsworth prison in April and most recently on Tuesday.

Two inmates entered Modi’s cell, punched him, pushed him to the floor, kicked him and made extortion attempts while he was on the phone to a colleague, Modi’s lawyer stated, adding that probably media coverage of his client’s case had played a part in causing the attack.

His lawyer also referred to parts of a confidential doctor’s report on Nirav’s depression which was leaked to the press earlier.

Modi’s lawyer also stated that the UK prison service failed to respond to these assaults and his client’s request to see a lawyer was also denied.

In the evidence submitted to the court, Nirav claimed that he would kill himself if his extradition to India was ordered and expressed his apprehension that he would not get a fair trial in India.

Modi’s lawyer also doubled his bail security offer to 4 million UK pounds (Rs 36 crore).

However, Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said that she fears Modi would abscond or could interfere with witnesses or destroy evidence and hence denied him bail for the fifth time.

The jailed diamantaire is scheduled to make his next court appearance on 4 December.