Nirav Modi: India building watertight case in UK against fugitive diamantaire

Court to decide on trial dates of Nirav Modi by May-end

UK court rejects Nirav Modi's bail plea [File] Journalists gather outside court after Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi was denied bail at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, on Friday | AP

Indian authorities are trying to build a watertight case to keep fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi in jail till his trail begins by May end, after his bail application was rejected by the UK court on March 29. Modi is lodged in Her Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth in south west London. 

His next bail hearing is on April 26 and sources in the Enforcement Directorate said it is unlikely he would be granted bail till the trial. The case management hearing when the court decides on the trial dates is scheduled May-end. 

“We are making all possible efforts to bring back Nirav Modi to face trail in India," SK Mishra, chief of Enforcement Directorate told THE WEEK. 

The procedure is long, but the team of ED and CBI officials led by joint director Satyabrata Kumar, who heads the Mumbai Zonal office of the Enforcement Directorate, is a seasoned one. 

They recently tasted success in the Vijay Mallya case and their daily rounds to the Westminster Court up to his successful extradition order are fresh in memory.

The same team led by Satyabrata, an Indian Revenue Service officer, had landed in London on March 29 for Nirav Modi.  

Modi is being represented by Claire Montgomery who was also the lead defence lawyer in the extradition trial of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya. Mallya’s extradition was ordered by the UK Westminster court December last after ED and CBI officials put up a tough case for getting him back to the country to face trial.

The crown prosecution service, which is representing India’s case this time, is Toby Cadman. The April 26 bail hearing is expected to be through video link. 

The first time Modi was physically brought before the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London was on March 19, soon after his arrest.