A UK court on Thursday ordered Nirav Modi's extradition to India after a nearly two-year-long legal battle. The court accepted the Indian case that Nirav Modi threatened witnesses and tampered with evidence.

News Alert: Nirav Modi can be extradited to India

A UK court will give a verdict on Diamond merchant Nirav Modi's extradition case. Nirav Modi is currently facing charges of fraud and money laundering.

UK judge to rule on Nirav Modi extradition case

Canadian government lawyers said in court documents obtained Friday that Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's allegations that former US president Donald Trump "poisoned" her extradition trial are "moot" now that he has left office.

And they have asked a Canadian judge not to even hear those arguments about Trump when the proceedings resume next month.

Meng's lawyers were expected to challenge the fairness of the proceedings, saying they've been tainted by Trump's comments soon after her December 2018 arrest on a US warrant -- when he said he might intervene in her prosecution on fraud and conspiracy charges in exchange for Chinese trade concessions.

These were "statements by a president no longer in office, about a possible intervention in this case that never occurred, purportedly to achieve a trade deal that has long since been successfully negotiated (and so) have no past, present or prospective impact on these proceedings," lawyers for Canada's attorney general said in the documents.

"The very thin basis on which this application was launched has vanished," they said. "The court should decline to hear it."

Meng's defense team last year said in court filings that "these proceedings have been poisoned" and could "no longer be reasonably regarded as fair, regardless of the undoubted good faith of the court."

They pointed to Trump's remarks, saying "the president not only thinks he can intervene in prosecutions, but that he will do so when it suits his political agenda."

Meng faces charges in the United States of bank fraud and conspiracy related to the activities of a former Huawei subsidiary alleged to have violated US sanctions against Iran -- which both Meng and Huawei deny.

She remains under house arrest in her Vancouver mansion ahead of the next leg of her extradition case, scheduled to start on March 1 and end in May.

Canadian government lawyers said in court documents obtained Friday that Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's allegations that former US president Donald Trump "poisoned" her extradition trial are "moot" now that he has left office.

Canadian government lawyers said in court documents obtained Friday that Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's allegations that former US president Donald Trump "poisoned" her extradition trial are "moot" now that he has left office. And they have asked a Canadian judge not to even hear those arguments about Trump when the proceedings resume next month. Meng's lawyers were expected to challenge the fairness of the proceedings, saying they've been tainted by Trump's comments soon after her December 2018 arrest on a US warrant -- when he said he might intervene in her prosecution on fraud and conspiracy charges in exchange for Chinese trade concessions. These were "statements by a president no longer in office, about a possible intervention in this case that never occurred, purportedly to achieve a trade deal that has long since been successfully negotiated (and so) have no past, present or prospective impact on these proceedings," lawyers for Canada's attorney general said in the documents. "The very thin basis on which this application was launched has vanished," they said. "The court should decline to hear it." Meng's defense team last year said in court filings that "these proceedings have been poisoned" and could "no longer be reasonably regarded as fair, regardless of the undoubted good faith of the court." They pointed to Trump's remarks, saying "the president not only thinks he can intervene in prosecutions, but that he will do so when it suits his political agenda." Meng faces charges in the United States of bank fraud and conspiracy related to the activities of a former Huawei subsidiary alleged to have violated US sanctions against Iran -- which both Meng and Huawei deny. She remains under house arrest in her Vancouver mansion ahead of the next leg of her extradition case, scheduled to start on March 1 and end in May.

Canada rejects argument Trump 'poisoned' Chinese exec's extradition case

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-charges-against-julian-assange-to-be-unveiled-on-friday-226352">WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange</a> is due before a London court on Friday, facing the next stage of a US attempt to try him on spying charges after Britain's interior minister said he had validated the American extradition request.

Assange, 47, is accused of conspiring to hack US government computers and violating an espionage law.

He is currently in a London prison after being jailed for 50 weeks for skipping bail after fleeing to the Ecuadorean embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning in a sexual assault investigation in 2012.

"I am very pleased the police were finally able to apprehend him and now he's rightfully behind bars because he broke UK law," British Home Secretary Sajid Javid told BBC radio.

"Yesterday I signed the extradition order and certified it and that will be going in front of the courts tomorrow. It is ultimately a decision for the courts."

Javid's certification simply means the extradition request is a valid one but it will be for a judge to decide whether <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swedish-court-rejects-request-to-detain-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-over-2010-rape-case-223954">Assange</a> can be sent to the United States, taking into account issues such as whether it would breach his human rights.

When Assange fled to the Ecuadorean embassy, he said he feared he would be ultimately extradited to the United States where he had caused anger by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables.

He was dragged from the embassy by British police on April 11 and within hours of his arrest, US prosecutors said they had charged him with conspiracy in trying to access a classified US government computer.

They added a further 17 criminal charges to that indictment when they submitted a formal extradition request.

Swedish prosecutors have also said they want to extradite Assange as part of a rape investigation that was dropped in 2017 although no formal request has yet been submitted.

He was too ill to attend that hearing and is due to appear by video link on Friday at Westminster Magistrates' Court where a date for his full US extradition hearing is likely to be set.

WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange is due before a London court on Friday, facing the next stage of a US attempt to try him on spying charges after Britain's interior minister said he had validated the American extradition request.

WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange is due before a London court on Friday, facing the next stage of a US attempt to try him on spying charges after Britain's interior minister said he had validated the American extradition request. Assange, 47, is accused of conspiring to hack US government computers and violating an espionage law. He is currently in a London prison after being jailed for 50 weeks for skipping bail after fleeing to the Ecuadorean embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning in a sexual assault investigation in 2012. "I am very pleased the police were finally able to apprehend him and now he's rightfully behind bars because he broke UK law," British Home Secretary Sajid Javid told BBC radio. "Yesterday I signed the extradition order and certified it and that will be going in front of the courts tomorrow. It is ultimately a decision for the courts." Javid's certification simply means the extradition request is a valid one but it will be for a judge to decide whether Assange can be sent to the United States, taking into account issues such as whether it would breach his human rights. When Assange fled to the Ecuadorean embassy, he said he feared he would be ultimately extradited to the United States where he had caused anger by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables. He was dragged from the embassy by British police on April 11 and within hours of his arrest, US prosecutors said they had charged him with conspiracy in trying to access a classified US government computer. They added a further 17 criminal charges to that indictment when they submitted a formal extradition request. Swedish prosecutors have also said they want to extradite Assange as part of a rape investigation that was dropped in 2017 although no formal request has yet been submitted. He was too ill to attend that hearing and is due to appear by video link on Friday at Westminster Magistrates' Court where a date for his full US extradition hearing is likely to be set.

Next step in Assange extradition case due in United Kingdom court on Friday

Fugitive diamond merchant <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uk-court-denies-bail-to-nirav-modi-for-third-time-217108">Nirav Modi is set to be produced before a court</a> in London on Thursday as he fights his extradition to India in the nearly $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case.

The 48-year-old has been lodged at Wandsworth prison in south-west London since his third attempt at seeking bail was rejected by Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot at the last hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this month.&nbsp;

He is set to be produced from custody before Judge Arbuthnot for the first case management hearing in the case, during which a broad timeline is expected for his extradition trial.

"This is a large fraud and the doubling of security to 2 million pounds is not sufficient to cover a combination of concerns that he would fail to surrender," Arbuthnot had ruled at the last hearing on May 8.

"A combination of interference with witnesses, destruction of servers and mobile phones and the lack of community ties means I still have doubts that he would fail to surrender before the court," she concluded.

Modi was arrested by uniformed Scotland Yard officers on an extradition warrant from a Metro Bank branch in central London as he attempted to open a new bank account on March 19 and has been in prison since.

During subsequent hearings, Westminster Magistrates' Court was told that Modi was the "principal beneficiary" of the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs) as part of a conspiracy to defraud PNB and then laundering the proceeds of crime.

"His experience in custody has been vivid and damaging he is willing to abide by any bail conditions imposed by the court because Wandsworth is unliveable and makes the effective preparation of his case virtually impossible," Clare Montgomery, Modi's barrister, had told the court at the last hearing, in an attempt to persuade the judge to grant bail on a strict 24-hour curfew at his posh Centrepoint apartment in the West End of London.

"Suffice to say efforts to present him (by the government of India) as a diabolical mechanic and cold-blooded, hardened criminal are completely false," she stressed.

However, the judge was particularly concerned about Modi's "lack of community ties" in the UK, having been based in London for only a "short period of time" since 2017 and also pointed to the "luring away" of witnesses from India to far away destinations like Egypt.

"There does seem to be a luring away of witnesses and some pressure that took witnesses away from India," Arbuthnot noted, making specific reference to a transcript of a conversation which indicated that Nirav Modi may have been using his US-based brother Nehal Modi to do his "dirty work as it were".

A team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were present in the court as Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) barrister Nick Hearn, arguing on behalf of the Indian government, presented a "plausible and coherent" account of witnesses being leaned on by associates of Modi.

Arbuthnot noted that he had "squirrelled away" funds that he may use for his escape from the UK if released on bail, which means he has remained at Wandsworth prison one of England's most over-crowded jails.

Modi's legal team, led by solicitor Anand Doobay, have repeatedly asserted that the Indian authorities must present a "perfectly paginated" set of documents in support of the case against their client. It is a direct reference to the disorganised state of the paperwork in previous Indian extradition cases, most recently that of liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya.

Arbuthnot, the judge who had ordered the Mallya extradition in December 2018, has been very firm with the CPS, representing the Indian government, about proper indexing of all documents to be submitted to the court in relation to the case.

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi is set to be produced before a court in London on Thursday as he fights his extradition to India in the nearly $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case.

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi is set to be produced before a court in London on Thursday as he fights his extradition to India in the nearly $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case. The 48-year-old has been lodged at Wandsworth prison in south-west London since his third attempt at seeking bail was rejected by Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot at the last hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this month. He is set to be produced from custody before Judge Arbuthnot for the first case management hearing in the case, during which a broad timeline is expected for his extradition trial. "This is a large fraud and the doubling of security to 2 million pounds is not sufficient to cover a combination of concerns that he would fail to surrender," Arbuthnot had ruled at the last hearing on May 8. "A combination of interference with witnesses, destruction of servers and mobile phones and the lack of community ties means I still have doubts that he would fail to surrender before the court," she concluded. Modi was arrested by uniformed Scotland Yard officers on an extradition warrant from a Metro Bank branch in central London as he attempted to open a new bank account on March 19 and has been in prison since. During subsequent hearings, Westminster Magistrates' Court was told that Modi was the "principal beneficiary" of the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs) as part of a conspiracy to defraud PNB and then laundering the proceeds of crime. "His experience in custody has been vivid and damaging he is willing to abide by any bail conditions imposed by the court because Wandsworth is unliveable and makes the effective preparation of his case virtually impossible," Clare Montgomery, Modi's barrister, had told the court at the last hearing, in an attempt to persuade the judge to grant bail on a strict 24-hour curfew at his posh Centrepoint apartment in the West End of London. "Suffice to say efforts to present him (by the government of India) as a diabolical mechanic and cold-blooded, hardened criminal are completely false," she stressed. However, the judge was particularly concerned about Modi's "lack of community ties" in the UK, having been based in London for only a "short period of time" since 2017 and also pointed to the "luring away" of witnesses from India to far away destinations like Egypt. "There does seem to be a luring away of witnesses and some pressure that took witnesses away from India," Arbuthnot noted, making specific reference to a transcript of a conversation which indicated that Nirav Modi may have been using his US-based brother Nehal Modi to do his "dirty work as it were". A team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were present in the court as Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) barrister Nick Hearn, arguing on behalf of the Indian government, presented a "plausible and coherent" account of witnesses being leaned on by associates of Modi. Arbuthnot noted that he had "squirrelled away" funds that he may use for his escape from the UK if released on bail, which means he has remained at Wandsworth prison one of England's most over-crowded jails. Modi's legal team, led by solicitor Anand Doobay, have repeatedly asserted that the Indian authorities must present a "perfectly paginated" set of documents in support of the case against their client. It is a direct reference to the disorganised state of the paperwork in previous Indian extradition cases, most recently that of liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya. Arbuthnot, the judge who had ordered the Mallya extradition in December 2018, has been very firm with the CPS, representing the Indian government, about proper indexing of all documents to be submitted to the court in relation to the case.

Nirav Modi to be produced before UK court in extradition case

Is India closer to Nirav Modi's extradition?

Hakeem al-Araibi, a Bahraini football player who was held in Thailand <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-supporters-cheer-refugee-bahraini-footballer-freed-from-thai-jail-196814">arrived in Melbourne</a>, Australia after the Thai criminal court dropped the deportation case that would have extradited him back to his native land.&nbsp;

After the footballer disembarked in Melbourne airport from a Thai Airways flight, he thanked his supporters, who cheered, "Welcome home Hakeem!"

"I just, I would like to, thanks to Australia and it's amazing to see all the people here, all the Australian people, all the media, they support me, and I just want to thank the Australia government, the Australian people," said Bahraini footballer al-Araibi.&nbsp;

"I didn't get citizenship yet, but, my country is Australia ... I love Australia," he added.&nbsp;

Authorities in Bahrain accused Araibi of crimes committed during the Arab Spring protests of 2011, charges which he denied. He was&nbsp;released from prison in Bangkok after nearly 80 days in detention.&nbsp;

While Bahrain said it could still pursue further legal proceedings against the footballer.&nbsp;

"The Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms its right to pursue all necessary legal actions against Mr. Al Araibi," the foreign ministry said in a statement, issued by the state-run news agency BNA.

Thailand had come under great pressure from Australia's government, sporting bodies and human rights groups to send Hakeem al-Araibi back to Australia, where he has refugee status and plays semi-professional football.&nbsp;

Hakeem al-Araibi, a Bahraini football player who was held in Thailand arrived in Melbourne, Australia after the Thai criminal court dropped the deportation case that would have extradited him back to his native land.

Hakeem al-Araibi, a Bahraini football player who was held in Thailand arrived in Melbourne, Australia after the Thai criminal court dropped the deportation case that would have extradited him back to his native land. After the footballer disembarked in Melbourne airport from a Thai Airways flight, he thanked his supporters, who cheered, "Welcome home Hakeem!" "I just, I would like to, thanks to Australia and it's amazing to see all the people here, all the Australian people, all the media, they support me, and I just want to thank the Australia government, the Australian people," said Bahraini footballer al-Araibi. "I didn't get citizenship yet, but, my country is Australia ... I love Australia," he added. Authorities in Bahrain accused Araibi of crimes committed during the Arab Spring protests of 2011, charges which he denied. He was released from prison in Bangkok after nearly 80 days in detention. While Bahrain said it could still pursue further legal proceedings against the footballer. "The Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms its right to pursue all necessary legal actions against Mr. Al Araibi," the foreign ministry said in a statement, issued by the state-run news agency BNA. Thailand had come under great pressure from Australia's government, sporting bodies and human rights groups to send Hakeem al-Araibi back to Australia, where he has refugee status and plays semi-professional football.

'My country is Australia': Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi thanks supporters

There is a "strong possibility" of Tahawwur Hussain Rana - currently serving a 14-year jail term in the US for plotting the 2008 Mumbai terror attack - being extradited to India, an informed source said.&nbsp;

The Indian government, with "full co-operation" from the Trump administration, is currently working on completing the necessary paperwork to ensure the extradition of the Pakistani-Canadian national before his current jail term ends in December 2021.

Rana was arrested in 2009 on the charges of plotting the 26/11 terror attack. Some 166 people, including US nationals, were killed in the attack carried out by 10 Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after handed down death sentence by an Indian court.

In 2013, Rana was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.&nbsp;

According to the US officials, he is set to be released in December 2021.

"There is a strong possibility of extradition of Rana to India on completion of his jail term here. We (US and India) are working on this," a source told PTI. 
But the "challenge" is to complete the necessary paperwork during this period and overcome the cumbersome bureaucracy of the two countries and the independent judiciary, the source said.

India's Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Law and Justice and the US' State Department and the Department of Justice, each of them has their own extradition procedure in place.

And they are unwilling to cut down or speed up their own process when it comes to extradition, it added.

Following a recent visit to the US by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, officials from both sides have agreed to cut down on the bureaucratic procedures so that all the necessary paperwork is ready before the current jail term of Rana ends in December 2021.&nbsp;

From now on, the NIA is expected to have direct communication with their US counterparts to cut short the timeframe and bureaucratic formalities.

In case, the US government in co-operation with the Indian government is unable to complete the necessary paperwork before that, officials here said it would become very tough to ensure a smooth extradition of Rana once he is released from the jail in Chicago, where he is currently serving his sentence.

As per the existing US law, Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian national, would most probably be deported to Canada if India and the US are unable to complete the cumbersome extradition process before his release.

However, people familiar with the matter told PTI, that there is a "desire" so there is assurance from the highest level in the Trump administration that all necessary steps would be taken in a timely fashion to ensure extradition of Rana before his release.

According to the US officials, the extradition of Rana would help in cementing the relationship between the two countries, boost up the counter-terrorism co-operation and enhance America's image among Indians.

On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, in November 2018, the Trump administration had reiterated its resolve to bring to justice those involved in it.&nbsp;

Vice President Mike Pence had raised this issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November.

During their recent visit, the NIA team also received guidance from their US counterparts on the paperwork which India needs to complete to meet the requirements of the American judiciary system and their standards.&nbsp;

India would not seek extradition of Rana on the charges for which he is already serving his jail sentence, as officials pointed out that the "double jeopardy" clause in the US justice system prohibits to punish a person twice for the same crime.

India is seeking extradition of Rana on the ground that he was actively involved in planning an attack on the New Delhi-based National Defense College and Chabad Houses in several cities. There is also forgery case registered against him in India.

Citing the partial government shutdown, the State Department and the Department of Justice expressed their inability to respond to the questions related to the extradition of Rana.&nbsp;

The Indian Embassy here and the attorney of Rana did not respond to a question on this issue.&nbsp;

There is a "strong possibility" of Tahawwur Hussain Rana - currently serving a 14-year jail term in the US for plotting the 2008 Mumbai terror attack - being extradited to India, an informed source said.

There is a "strong possibility" of Tahawwur Hussain Rana - currently serving a 14-year jail term in the US for plotting the 2008 Mumbai terror attack - being extradited to India, an informed source said. The Indian government, with "full co-operation" from the Trump administration, is currently working on completing the necessary paperwork to ensure the extradition of the Pakistani-Canadian national before his current jail term ends in December 2021. Rana was arrested in 2009 on the charges of plotting the 26/11 terror attack. Some 166 people, including US nationals, were killed in the attack carried out by 10 Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after handed down death sentence by an Indian court. In 2013, Rana was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment. According to the US officials, he is set to be released in December 2021. "There is a strong possibility of extradition of Rana to India on completion of his jail term here. We (US and India) are working on this," a source told PTI. But the "challenge" is to complete the necessary paperwork during this period and overcome the cumbersome bureaucracy of the two countries and the independent judiciary, the source said. India's Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Law and Justice and the US' State Department and the Department of Justice, each of them has their own extradition procedure in place. And they are unwilling to cut down or speed up their own process when it comes to extradition, it added. Following a recent visit to the US by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, officials from both sides have agreed to cut down on the bureaucratic procedures so that all the necessary paperwork is ready before the current jail term of Rana ends in December 2021. From now on, the NIA is expected to have direct communication with their US counterparts to cut short the timeframe and bureaucratic formalities. In case, the US government in co-operation with the Indian government is unable to complete the necessary paperwork before that, officials here said it would become very tough to ensure a smooth extradition of Rana once he is released from the jail in Chicago, where he is currently serving his sentence. As per the existing US law, Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian national, would most probably be deported to Canada if India and the US are unable to complete the cumbersome extradition process before his release. However, people familiar with the matter told PTI, that there is a "desire" so there is assurance from the highest level in the Trump administration that all necessary steps would be taken in a timely fashion to ensure extradition of Rana before his release. According to the US officials, the extradition of Rana would help in cementing the relationship between the two countries, boost up the counter-terrorism co-operation and enhance America's image among Indians. On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, in November 2018, the Trump administration had reiterated its resolve to bring to justice those involved in it. Vice President Mike Pence had raised this issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November. During their recent visit, the NIA team also received guidance from their US counterparts on the paperwork which India needs to complete to meet the requirements of the American judiciary system and their standards. India would not seek extradition of Rana on the charges for which he is already serving his jail sentence, as officials pointed out that the "double jeopardy" clause in the US justice system prohibits to punish a person twice for the same crime. India is seeking extradition of Rana on the ground that he was actively involved in planning an attack on the New Delhi-based National Defense College and Chabad Houses in several cities. There is also forgery case registered against him in India. Citing the partial government shutdown, the State Department and the Department of Justice expressed their inability to respond to the questions related to the extradition of Rana. The Indian Embassy here and the attorney of Rana did not respond to a question on this issue.

'Strong possibility' of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana to be extradited to India: Sources

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Extradition case: Fugitive Mallya faces UK court

Vijay Mallya arrives in UK court; verdict on case shortly

Embattled liquor tycoon <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/it-is-for-judge-to-decide-vijay-mallya-on-returning-to-india-164367">Vijay Mallya</a> is scheduled to return to Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Monday when his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/idbi-bank-officials-were-well-aware-of-kingfishers-losses-vijay-mallyas-lawyer-in-uk-court-165265">extradition trial</a> is listed for a judgment hand-down. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss, wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, has been on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year. He has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is "politically motivated" and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"I did not borrow a single rupee. The borrower was Kingfisher Airlines. Money was lost due to a genuine and sad business failure. Being held as guarantor is not fraud," he said in his recent Twitter post on the issue. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"I have offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount to them. Please take it," he tweeted earlier. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
While dismissing that his intervention has anything to do with the extradition case, it came just days before Judge Emma Arbuthnot is expected to present her ruling in the case. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The trial, which opened at the Magistrates' Court on December 4 last year, has gone through a series of hearings beyond the initial seven days earmarked for it. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
It opened with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) team, led by Mark Summers, laying out the Indian government's prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against Mallya. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Summers sought to establish a "blueprint of dishonesty" against the businessman and that there are no bars to his extradition on human rights grounds. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Mallya's defence team, led by Clare Montgomery, deposed a series of experts in an attempt to prove that the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines' alleged default of bank loans was the result of business failure rather than "dishonest" and "fraudulent" activity by its owner. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The court was also told that a consortium of Indian banks, led by State Bank of India (SBI), had rejected an offer by the liquor baron in early 2016 to pay back nearly 80 per cent of the principle loan amount owed to them. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
While the CPS argued that Mallya never intended to repay the loans he sought in the first place because his airline's demise was inevitable, the defence tried to establish that Kingfisher Airlines was suffering from consequences of a wider global financial crisis around 2009-2010 and that its failure was a result of factors beyond the company's control. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"There are clear signs that the banks seem to have gone against their own guidelines [in sanctioning some of the loans]," Judge Arbuthnot had noted during the course of the trial. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
In relation to the defence's attempts to dispute Indian prison conditions as a bar to Mallya's extradition on human rights grounds, the judge had indicated to the CPS that she did not require any further information in reference to the prison conditions awaiting Mallya at Barrack 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail after seeking a video of the cell. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"If the judge is satisfied that all of the procedural requirements are met and that none of the statutory bars to extradition apply, he or she must send the case to the Secretary of State for a decision to be taken on whether to order extradition," explains Pavani Reddy, a UK-based legal expert and Managing Partner of Zaiwalla &amp; Co. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The judge's decision on whether to send Mallya's case to UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid can be appealed with the UK High Court's permission, with the person to be extradited entitled to make an application for permission to appeal to the High Court within 14 days of the date of the Chief Magistrate's ruling. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
On the other hand, the Indian government would also have 14 days to file leave to appeal to the High Court, seeking permission to appeal against a decision not to extradite. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"In case the concerned individual does not file an appeal, and Secretary of State agrees with the magistrate's decision, then the individual must be extradited from the UK within 28 days of the Home Secretary's extradition order. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"This will also apply if an appeal lodged by either party in the High Court is unsuccessful, but the 28 days will commence from the date when the appeal hearing was concluded," said Reddy. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
If the judgment goes ahead as scheduled on Monday, it would mark a significant point in this high-profile extradition trial that has lasted over a year.

Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya is scheduled to return to Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Monday when his extradition trial is listed for a judgment hand-down.

Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya is scheduled to return to Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Monday when his extradition trial is listed for a judgment hand-down. The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss, wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, has been on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year. He has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is "politically motivated" and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat. "I did not borrow a single rupee. The borrower was Kingfisher Airlines. Money was lost due to a genuine and sad business failure. Being held as guarantor is not fraud," he said in his recent Twitter post on the issue. "I have offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount to them. Please take it," he tweeted earlier. While dismissing that his intervention has anything to do with the extradition case, it came just days before Judge Emma Arbuthnot is expected to present her ruling in the case. The trial, which opened at the Magistrates' Court on December 4 last year, has gone through a series of hearings beyond the initial seven days earmarked for it. It opened with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) team, led by Mark Summers, laying out the Indian government's prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against Mallya. Summers sought to establish a "blueprint of dishonesty" against the businessman and that there are no bars to his extradition on human rights grounds. Mallya's defence team, led by Clare Montgomery, deposed a series of experts in an attempt to prove that the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines' alleged default of bank loans was the result of business failure rather than "dishonest" and "fraudulent" activity by its owner. The court was also told that a consortium of Indian banks, led by State Bank of India (SBI), had rejected an offer by the liquor baron in early 2016 to pay back nearly 80 per cent of the principle loan amount owed to them. While the CPS argued that Mallya never intended to repay the loans he sought in the first place because his airline's demise was inevitable, the defence tried to establish that Kingfisher Airlines was suffering from consequences of a wider global financial crisis around 2009-2010 and that its failure was a result of factors beyond the company's control. "There are clear signs that the banks seem to have gone against their own guidelines [in sanctioning some of the loans]," Judge Arbuthnot had noted during the course of the trial. In relation to the defence's attempts to dispute Indian prison conditions as a bar to Mallya's extradition on human rights grounds, the judge had indicated to the CPS that she did not require any further information in reference to the prison conditions awaiting Mallya at Barrack 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail after seeking a video of the cell. "If the judge is satisfied that all of the procedural requirements are met and that none of the statutory bars to extradition apply, he or she must send the case to the Secretary of State for a decision to be taken on whether to order extradition," explains Pavani Reddy, a UK-based legal expert and Managing Partner of Zaiwalla & Co. The judge's decision on whether to send Mallya's case to UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid can be appealed with the UK High Court's permission, with the person to be extradited entitled to make an application for permission to appeal to the High Court within 14 days of the date of the Chief Magistrate's ruling. On the other hand, the Indian government would also have 14 days to file leave to appeal to the High Court, seeking permission to appeal against a decision not to extradite. "In case the concerned individual does not file an appeal, and Secretary of State agrees with the magistrate's decision, then the individual must be extradited from the UK within 28 days of the Home Secretary's extradition order. "This will also apply if an appeal lodged by either party in the High Court is unsuccessful, but the 28 days will commence from the date when the appeal hearing was concluded," said Reddy. If the judgment goes ahead as scheduled on Monday, it would mark a significant point in this high-profile extradition trial that has lasted over a year.

Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya's extradition case edges towards ruling

Vijay Mallya extradition case: Verdict expected tomorrow

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