India has said that the extradition case of <a href="http://winews.com/india-news/us-invoking-rico-act-against-nirav-modi-may-pave-the-way-for-his-speedier-extradition-to-india-207832">fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi</a> will be taken up by a UK court after May 30. Nirav, who is involved in a Rs 13,000 crore scam in India's public sector Punjab National Bank, is currently in a UK jail, having been denied bail twice.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said, "The judge has decided that case will be listed by the court on a date after 30th May 2019."

He said, "Agencies and High Commission of India, Government of India are putting a lot of effort into this to ensure that the process of extradition of Nirav Modi is completed at the earliest but we have to go through the due process".&nbsp;

His bail was rejected last week since the prosecution had pleaded that he may threaten the witnesses. His hearing will again resume on April 26 now.

Nirav had fled India in January 2018 when the PNB first reported the scam. In February, India revoked his passport and later in August last year, New Delhi sent a couple of extradition requests to the UK - one from the CBI, another from the ED regarding the extradition of the absconder businessman.

Through fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking/Foreign Letters of Credit for payments of import bills, Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi were able to dupe PNB of Rs 13,000 crore between February 2011 and May 2017.&nbsp;

While Nirav Modi fled to the UK, Choksi fled to the Caribbean country of Antigua and Barbuda and took its citizenship.

India has said that the extradition case of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi will be taken up by a UK court after May 30. Nirav, who is involved in a Rs 13,000 crore scam in India's public sector Punjab National Bank, is currently in a UK jail, having been denied bail twice.

India has said that the extradition case of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi will be taken up by a UK court after May 30. Nirav, who is involved in a Rs 13,000 crore scam in India's public sector Punjab National Bank, is currently in a UK jail, having been denied bail twice. The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said, "The judge has decided that case will be listed by the court on a date after 30th May 2019." He said, "Agencies and High Commission of India, Government of India are putting a lot of effort into this to ensure that the process of extradition of Nirav Modi is completed at the earliest but we have to go through the due process". His bail was rejected last week since the prosecution had pleaded that he may threaten the witnesses. His hearing will again resume on April 26 now. Nirav had fled India in January 2018 when the PNB first reported the scam. In February, India revoked his passport and later in August last year, New Delhi sent a couple of extradition requests to the UK - one from the CBI, another from the ED regarding the extradition of the absconder businessman. Through fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking/Foreign Letters of Credit for payments of import bills, Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi were able to dupe PNB of Rs 13,000 crore between February 2011 and May 2017. While Nirav Modi fled to the UK, Choksi fled to the Caribbean country of Antigua and Barbuda and took its citizenship.

Nirav Modi's extradition case to begin after May 30: MEA

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, undergoing extradition proceedings in the UK, intends to appeal for bail in the UK High Court after a second bail application was rejected by a lower court in London last week in the USD 1-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case. 
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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which represents the Indian authorities through the extradition process in the UK courts, said the 48-year-old intends to appeal against Judge Emma Arbuthnot’s decision to turn down his bail plea at the end of a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last Friday on the grounds that there was a “substantial risk he would fail to surrender”.

“Mr Modi intends to appeal his bail decision, but he has not yet submitted the appeal,” a CPS spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

The diamond merchant, who has been behind bars at HMP Wandsworth in south-west London ever since his first bail application was rejected on March 20, can apply for a High Court bail appeal at any time until his next remand hearing on April 26.

However, his legal team must give the CPS 48 hours’ notice and the bail hearing must be listed within 48 hours of the appeal being lodged in the higher court.

“We are not making any comment at this time,” Modi’s solicitor Anand Doobay said, in reference to plans for a bail appeal application.

It remains to be seen how Modi’s legal team is able to further bolster the bail application after Chief Magistrate Arbuthnot ruled that 1 million pounds offered as security for bail as well as the offer to meet stringent electronic tag restrictions on their client’s movements, “akin to house arrest”, were not sufficient to convince her that he did not pose a flight risk.

“This is a case of substantial fraud, with a loss to a bank in India of between USD 1-2 billion. I am not persuaded that the conditional bail sought will meet the concerns of the government of India in this case,” the judge noted.

The court was told that Modi’s son, who had been at a school in London, had now left for higher studies in the US, which led the judge to conclude that Modi not only had a “lack of community ties” in the UK but also large resources at his disposal to try and flee the country.

Modi’s attempt to acquire the citizenship of Vanuatu in late 2017 also went against him as the judge said it seemed like he was trying to “move away from India at an important time”.

Clare Montgomery, Modi’s barrister, had made a series of offers to try and convince the judge to grant bail, even bringing up his pet dog.

“He did have a son at Charterhouse (school in London) who has now gone to a university in the States and as a sign of ageing parents, led Mr Modi to get a dog instead. None of these actions is emblematic of someone setting out to flee the country,” Montgomery had claimed.

“It is nonsense to say that he is a flight risk. He does not have a safe haven open to him and he has not travelled or applied for citizenship elsewhere…he only qualifies for leave to remain in this country,” she said.

CPS barrister Toby Cadman told the judge that there was a “substantial risk” that the prime accused in the PNB fraud case, “of an amount between USD 1 and 2 billion”, would flee and attempt to interfere with witnesses and evidence.

Judge Arbuthnot accepted the Indian government’s arguments, noting the “very unusual” evidence she had seen at this early stage in the case of interference with witnesses and destruction of evidence in the form of mobile phones and a server.

The 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.

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, undergoing extradition proceedings in the UK, intends to appeal for bail in the UK High Court after a second bail application was rejected by a lower court in London last week in the USD 1-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case.

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, undergoing extradition proceedings in the UK, intends to appeal for bail in the UK High Court after a second bail application was rejected by a lower court in London last week in the USD 1-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case. Advertising The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which represents the Indian authorities through the extradition process in the UK courts, said the 48-year-old intends to appeal against Judge Emma Arbuthnot’s decision to turn down his bail plea at the end of a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last Friday on the grounds that there was a “substantial risk he would fail to surrender”. “Mr Modi intends to appeal his bail decision, but he has not yet submitted the appeal,” a CPS spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday. The diamond merchant, who has been behind bars at HMP Wandsworth in south-west London ever since his first bail application was rejected on March 20, can apply for a High Court bail appeal at any time until his next remand hearing on April 26. However, his legal team must give the CPS 48 hours’ notice and the bail hearing must be listed within 48 hours of the appeal being lodged in the higher court. “We are not making any comment at this time,” Modi’s solicitor Anand Doobay said, in reference to plans for a bail appeal application. It remains to be seen how Modi’s legal team is able to further bolster the bail application after Chief Magistrate Arbuthnot ruled that 1 million pounds offered as security for bail as well as the offer to meet stringent electronic tag restrictions on their client’s movements, “akin to house arrest”, were not sufficient to convince her that he did not pose a flight risk. “This is a case of substantial fraud, with a loss to a bank in India of between USD 1-2 billion. I am not persuaded that the conditional bail sought will meet the concerns of the government of India in this case,” the judge noted. The court was told that Modi’s son, who had been at a school in London, had now left for higher studies in the US, which led the judge to conclude that Modi not only had a “lack of community ties” in the UK but also large resources at his disposal to try and flee the country. Modi’s attempt to acquire the citizenship of Vanuatu in late 2017 also went against him as the judge said it seemed like he was trying to “move away from India at an important time”. Clare Montgomery, Modi’s barrister, had made a series of offers to try and convince the judge to grant bail, even bringing up his pet dog. “He did have a son at Charterhouse (school in London) who has now gone to a university in the States and as a sign of ageing parents, led Mr Modi to get a dog instead. None of these actions is emblematic of someone setting out to flee the country,” Montgomery had claimed. “It is nonsense to say that he is a flight risk. He does not have a safe haven open to him and he has not travelled or applied for citizenship elsewhere…he only qualifies for leave to remain in this country,” she said. CPS barrister Toby Cadman told the judge that there was a “substantial risk” that the prime accused in the PNB fraud case, “of an amount between USD 1 and 2 billion”, would flee and attempt to interfere with witnesses and evidence. Judge Arbuthnot accepted the Indian government’s arguments, noting the “very unusual” evidence she had seen at this early stage in the case of interference with witnesses and destruction of evidence in the form of mobile phones and a server. The 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.

Nirav Modi intends to appeal for bail in UK High Court

The Bombay High Court Monday refused to grant any relief to diamantaire Nirav Modi's company Camelot Enterprises which had challenged last week's auction by the Income Tax Department of some paintings and artwork belonging to the firm.

The petitioner, Camelot Enterprises, a shell company in which Nirav Modi holds over 99 per cent shares, had approached the high court last week challenging the tax assessment report of the I-T Department, and the department's subsequent notice proposing the recovery proceedings through the said auction.

A bench of Justices Akil Kureshi and Sarang Kotwal, however, rejected the petitioner's prayers for relief, noting among other things, that on the issue of the assessment order, Camelot had directly approached high court instead of filing an appeal before the concerned Appellate Tribunal.

The bench also noted that by not interfering with the auction that was held on March 26 this year, it was not putting the petitioner through an "irreversible situation".

"The petitioner does not claim any particular attachment to any painting or artwork. It hasn't challenged their valuation," the bench said.

"Incase the petitioner succeeds before the Appellate Authority, the amount recovered by the department through the auction can be returned to it with interest," it said.

The petitioner had also argued that the department had "failed" to serve, in a proper manner, notices, both for the assessment of dues and the auction.

It said the department had served notices to two of its directors, Ramesh Assar and Hemant Bhatt.

While Assar had resigned from the company when the notices were received in September last year, Bhatt was in judicial custody at the time.

Instead, Bhatt's son received the notice and told the department that he was incapable of replying to the same.

Therefore, the service of such notices must be held invalid by the court, the petitioner argued.

It further said of the 68 paintings put up for auction by the department, only 19 belonged to the company.

Therefore, the department should not have sold what did not belong to Camelot or to Nirav Modi.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who appeared for the I-T Department, however, argued that Camelot had merely made a statement denying ownership of all the paintings and artwork put up for auction.

It had not provided any legal evidence to prove that it did not own all of the paintings and artwork, Singh said.

Instead, "searches and inquiries conducted by the department" had led to the recovery of a total of 173 paintings and artwork belonging to the company.

Such artwork had been stored in a warehouse in Wadala, and the department had initiated the auction of 68 of such paintings and artwork to recover its tax dues, following valid notice and procedure, Singh said.

The ASG further argued that though the auction had been advertised and notified on its website and in newspapers, no one had come forward to claim ownership of such paintings and artwork which Camelot claimed did not belong to the company.

Therefore, it proved that all paintings and artwork were owned by Camelot, Singh said.

Besides, Singh argued, if Camelot indeed did not own the remaining paintings, then, it had no legal right or locus standi to challenge their sale.

On the issue of service of a notice, the ASG argued that in consonance with the law, the department had sent notices of the tax assessment and the recovery proceedings to the petitioner company and its known directors, Assar and Bhatt, through speed post and emails.

He also said Assar was shown by the petitioner to have resigned from the company a day after the notice for recovery proceedings had been dispatched.

There was also no evidence to prove that Assar had indeed resigned on the said date, he said.

The bench agreed that the petitioner had failed to provide any evidence to prove that it owned only 19 paintings.

"There is no explanation for why the petitioner, who claims to own only 19 paintings, had stored the remaining paintings at the same place at the warehouse, at its own cost. Also, no one has come forward to claim ownership of the remaining paintings. Therefore, the petition can't take shelter under this ground," the bench said.

Last month, a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court had allowed the I-T Department to auction selective artwork -- 68 of the 173 items recovered by the department and the Enforcement Directorate in a search -- allegedly belonging to Nirav Modi, to recover tax arrears.

The ED had provisionally attached the artwork, as part of the investigation into the Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank fraud.

The I-T Department sold 55 of the 68 items and raised around Rs 55 crore through such auction.

The Bombay High Court Monday refused to grant any relief to diamantaire Nirav Modi's company Camelot Enterprises which had challenged last week's auction by the Income Tax Department of some paintings and artwork belonging to the firm.

The Bombay High Court Monday refused to grant any relief to diamantaire Nirav Modi's company Camelot Enterprises which had challenged last week's auction by the Income Tax Department of some paintings and artwork belonging to the firm. The petitioner, Camelot Enterprises, a shell company in which Nirav Modi holds over 99 per cent shares, had approached the high court last week challenging the tax assessment report of the I-T Department, and the department's subsequent notice proposing the recovery proceedings through the said auction. A bench of Justices Akil Kureshi and Sarang Kotwal, however, rejected the petitioner's prayers for relief, noting among other things, that on the issue of the assessment order, Camelot had directly approached high court instead of filing an appeal before the concerned Appellate Tribunal. The bench also noted that by not interfering with the auction that was held on March 26 this year, it was not putting the petitioner through an "irreversible situation". "The petitioner does not claim any particular attachment to any painting or artwork. It hasn't challenged their valuation," the bench said. "Incase the petitioner succeeds before the Appellate Authority, the amount recovered by the department through the auction can be returned to it with interest," it said. The petitioner had also argued that the department had "failed" to serve, in a proper manner, notices, both for the assessment of dues and the auction. It said the department had served notices to two of its directors, Ramesh Assar and Hemant Bhatt. While Assar had resigned from the company when the notices were received in September last year, Bhatt was in judicial custody at the time. Instead, Bhatt's son received the notice and told the department that he was incapable of replying to the same. Therefore, the service of such notices must be held invalid by the court, the petitioner argued. It further said of the 68 paintings put up for auction by the department, only 19 belonged to the company. Therefore, the department should not have sold what did not belong to Camelot or to Nirav Modi. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who appeared for the I-T Department, however, argued that Camelot had merely made a statement denying ownership of all the paintings and artwork put up for auction. It had not provided any legal evidence to prove that it did not own all of the paintings and artwork, Singh said. Instead, "searches and inquiries conducted by the department" had led to the recovery of a total of 173 paintings and artwork belonging to the company. Such artwork had been stored in a warehouse in Wadala, and the department had initiated the auction of 68 of such paintings and artwork to recover its tax dues, following valid notice and procedure, Singh said. The ASG further argued that though the auction had been advertised and notified on its website and in newspapers, no one had come forward to claim ownership of such paintings and artwork which Camelot claimed did not belong to the company. Therefore, it proved that all paintings and artwork were owned by Camelot, Singh said. Besides, Singh argued, if Camelot indeed did not own the remaining paintings, then, it had no legal right or locus standi to challenge their sale. On the issue of service of a notice, the ASG argued that in consonance with the law, the department had sent notices of the tax assessment and the recovery proceedings to the petitioner company and its known directors, Assar and Bhatt, through speed post and emails. He also said Assar was shown by the petitioner to have resigned from the company a day after the notice for recovery proceedings had been dispatched. There was also no evidence to prove that Assar had indeed resigned on the said date, he said. The bench agreed that the petitioner had failed to provide any evidence to prove that it owned only 19 paintings. "There is no explanation for why the petitioner, who claims to own only 19 paintings, had stored the remaining paintings at the same place at the warehouse, at its own cost. Also, no one has come forward to claim ownership of the remaining paintings. Therefore, the petition can't take shelter under this ground," the bench said. Last month, a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court had allowed the I-T Department to auction selective artwork -- 68 of the 173 items recovered by the department and the Enforcement Directorate in a search -- allegedly belonging to Nirav Modi, to recover tax arrears. The ED had provisionally attached the artwork, as part of the investigation into the Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank fraud. The I-T Department sold 55 of the 68 items and raised around Rs 55 crore through such auction.

Mumbai: No High Court relief for Nirav Modi firm in I-T Dept's painting auction

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nirav-modi-vijay-mallya-to-share-same-jail-cell-in-mumbais-arthur-road-jail-judge-ask-prosecution-206649">Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya</a> on Sunday quoted an interview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assert that the government has already recovered more than what he allegedly owed to banks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vijay-mallya-appeal-moves-forward-as-nirav-modi-set-for-uk-court-hearing-206323">Mallya</a>, who is currently facing trial in a UK Court, took to micro-blogging Twitter and wrote,"I humbly submit that my assertion that I am a poster boy is fully vindicated by the PM`s own statement about me (by name)that his Govt has recovered more than what I allegedly owe the Banks. Fact that I have been a UK resident since 1992 ignored. Suits the BJP to say I ran away."

In an interview to a news channel on March 29, Prime Minister Modi had expressed satisfaction over the fact that Mallya`s extradition process was in the last stage and the government has recovered money from him.

"We brought in a law that enabled the Indian government to confiscate the property of fugitives in any part of the world. You must`ve seen in the case of Vijay Mallya. He owed banks Rs 9000 crore but the government has confiscated his properties worth Rs 14,000 crore from across the world. Now, he is in trouble because we are taking double the amount," said the Prime Minister in an exclusive interview to a&nbsp;news&nbsp;channel.

Reacting further on Prime Minister Modi`s statement, Mallya also took a dig at BJP spokespersons for speaking against him despite the government`s confirmation of full recovery.

"Saw PM Modi`s interview in which he takes my name and says that even though I owe Rs 9000 crores to Banks, his Govt has attached my assets worth Rs 14,000 crores. So the highest authority has confirmed full recovery. Why do BJP spokesmen continue their rhetoric," he tweeted.

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Saw PM Modi’s interview in which he takes my name and says that even though I owe Rs 9000 crores to Banks, his Govt has attached my assets worth Rs 14,000 <a href="https://t.co/PabfqYtncb">https://t.co/PabfqYtncb</a> the highest authority has confirmed full recovery. Why do BJP spokesmen continue their rhetoric?
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVijayMallya/status/1112171935570513920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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I humbly submit that my assertion that I am a poster boy is fully vindicated by the PM’s own statement about me (by name)that his Govt has recovered more than what I allegedly owe the Banks. Fact that I have been a UK resident since 1992 ignored. Suits the BJP to say I ran away.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVijayMallya/status/1112173460149727233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Patiala House Court on March 19 had ordered attachment of Vijay Mallya`s properties in Bengaluru under section 83 in The Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with a FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act) violation case.

The same court had already declared Mallya a proclaimed offender for evading summons in January 2018. The court had also issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against him for evading summons and law of the land in 2017.

As per the case registered by the Enforcement Directorate, Mallya had allegedly paid US $200,000 to a British firm and some European countries for displaying the logo of his now defunct Kingfisher airline in Formula One World Championships in London in 1996, 1997, and 1998.

The investigating agency also claimed that the money was paid without prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in violation of the FERA norms.

Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Sunday quoted an interview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assert that the government has already recovered more than what he allegedly owed to banks.

Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Sunday quoted an interview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assert that the government has already recovered more than what he allegedly owed to banks. Mallya, who is currently facing trial in a UK Court, took to micro-blogging Twitter and wrote,"I humbly submit that my assertion that I am a poster boy is fully vindicated by the PM`s own statement about me (by name)that his Govt has recovered more than what I allegedly owe the Banks. Fact that I have been a UK resident since 1992 ignored. Suits the BJP to say I ran away." In an interview to a news channel on March 29, Prime Minister Modi had expressed satisfaction over the fact that Mallya`s extradition process was in the last stage and the government has recovered money from him. "We brought in a law that enabled the Indian government to confiscate the property of fugitives in any part of the world. You must`ve seen in the case of Vijay Mallya. He owed banks Rs 9000 crore but the government has confiscated his properties worth Rs 14,000 crore from across the world. Now, he is in trouble because we are taking double the amount," said the Prime Minister in an exclusive interview to a news channel. Reacting further on Prime Minister Modi`s statement, Mallya also took a dig at BJP spokespersons for speaking against him despite the government`s confirmation of full recovery. "Saw PM Modi`s interview in which he takes my name and says that even though I owe Rs 9000 crores to Banks, his Govt has attached my assets worth Rs 14,000 crores. So the highest authority has confirmed full recovery. Why do BJP spokesmen continue their rhetoric," he tweeted. Saw PM Modi’s interview in which he takes my name and says that even though I owe Rs 9000 crores to Banks, his Govt has attached my assets worth Rs 14,000 https://t.co/PabfqYtncb the highest authority has confirmed full recovery. Why do BJP spokesmen continue their rhetoric? — Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 31, 2019 × I humbly submit that my assertion that I am a poster boy is fully vindicated by the PM’s own statement about me (by name)that his Govt has recovered more than what I allegedly owe the Banks. Fact that I have been a UK resident since 1992 ignored. Suits the BJP to say I ran away. — Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 31, 2019 × Patiala House Court on March 19 had ordered attachment of Vijay Mallya`s properties in Bengaluru under section 83 in The Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with a FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act) violation case. The same court had already declared Mallya a proclaimed offender for evading summons in January 2018. The court had also issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against him for evading summons and law of the land in 2017. As per the case registered by the Enforcement Directorate, Mallya had allegedly paid US $200,000 to a British firm and some European countries for displaying the logo of his now defunct Kingfisher airline in Formula One World Championships in London in 1996, 1997, and 1998. The investigating agency also claimed that the money was paid without prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in violation of the FERA norms.

Govt has recovered more than what I allegedly owe the Banks: Vijay Mallya

There were some light-hearted moments at the UK court Friday when Judge Emma Arbuthnot hearing the second bail plea of Nirav Modi asked the prosecution whether the fugitive diamantaire would be lodged in the same jail cell along with Vijay Mallya if he is also extradited to India.

The 48-year-old diamond merchant is wanted in India for alleged "high value and sophisticated" fraud and money laundering amounting to $2 billion.

At the very start of the hearing, Westminster Magistrates Court Chief Magistrate Arbuthnot said she was getting a sense of "deja vu", in reference to her having ordered the extradition of Mallya in December last year.

"Do we know which part of India he [Modi] is being sought in," the judge asked, to try and establish which jail Modi is likely to be held in.

She was told by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian government, that it would be an extradition to Mumbai and that he may, in fact, be held in the same Arthur Road Jail as that prepared for liquor tycoon Mallya, to which the judge said in a light-hearted vein that it could even be the same cell as we know "there is space" from the previous video submitted during the Mallya extradition trial.

India has informed the UK court that Mallya will be lodged in one of the high-security barracks located in a two-storey building inside the prison complex.

Authorities at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai have kept a high-security cell ready for Mallya if he is extradited from the UK in connection with loan default cases against him in India.

Mallya, wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crore, has filed his application in the UK High Court, seeking permission to appeal against an extradition order signed by the British Home Secretary.

If extradited, 62-year-old Mallya will be lodged in the prison complex, which also housed 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Kasab.

An official from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs earlier said Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail was one of the best in the country.

His comments came after Judge Arbuthnot asked Indian authorities to submit a video of the Arthur Road Jail cell where they plan to keep Mallya following his extradition.

The official said adequate medical facilities were available to treat prisoners in Arthur Road Jail, where Mallya would get full security cover as an undertrial prisoner and it was highly secured in accordance with international standards.

The central government has already conducted an assessment of security cover given to prisoners in the Arthur Road Jail and its findings conveyed to the UK court.

In another throwback to the Mallya trial, Nirav Modi's defence team, led by barrister Clare Montgomery raised the issue of the state of the paperwork submitted by the Indian authorities, claiming it "made her cry" at one stage.

The judge concurred with her and was very firm about proper indexing of all documents to be submitted to the court in relation to the case.&nbsp;

There were some light-hearted moments at the UK court Friday when Judge Emma Arbuthnot hearing the second bail plea of Nirav Modi asked the prosecution whether the fugitive diamantaire would be lodged in the same jail cell along with Vijay Mallya if he is also extradited to India.

There were some light-hearted moments at the UK court Friday when Judge Emma Arbuthnot hearing the second bail plea of Nirav Modi asked the prosecution whether the fugitive diamantaire would be lodged in the same jail cell along with Vijay Mallya if he is also extradited to India. The 48-year-old diamond merchant is wanted in India for alleged "high value and sophisticated" fraud and money laundering amounting to $2 billion. At the very start of the hearing, Westminster Magistrates Court Chief Magistrate Arbuthnot said she was getting a sense of "deja vu", in reference to her having ordered the extradition of Mallya in December last year. "Do we know which part of India he [Modi] is being sought in," the judge asked, to try and establish which jail Modi is likely to be held in. She was told by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian government, that it would be an extradition to Mumbai and that he may, in fact, be held in the same Arthur Road Jail as that prepared for liquor tycoon Mallya, to which the judge said in a light-hearted vein that it could even be the same cell as we know "there is space" from the previous video submitted during the Mallya extradition trial. India has informed the UK court that Mallya will be lodged in one of the high-security barracks located in a two-storey building inside the prison complex. Authorities at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai have kept a high-security cell ready for Mallya if he is extradited from the UK in connection with loan default cases against him in India. Mallya, wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crore, has filed his application in the UK High Court, seeking permission to appeal against an extradition order signed by the British Home Secretary. If extradited, 62-year-old Mallya will be lodged in the prison complex, which also housed 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Kasab. An official from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs earlier said Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail was one of the best in the country. His comments came after Judge Arbuthnot asked Indian authorities to submit a video of the Arthur Road Jail cell where they plan to keep Mallya following his extradition. The official said adequate medical facilities were available to treat prisoners in Arthur Road Jail, where Mallya would get full security cover as an undertrial prisoner and it was highly secured in accordance with international standards. The central government has already conducted an assessment of security cover given to prisoners in the Arthur Road Jail and its findings conveyed to the UK court. In another throwback to the Mallya trial, Nirav Modi's defence team, led by barrister Clare Montgomery raised the issue of the state of the paperwork submitted by the Indian authorities, claiming it "made her cry" at one stage. The judge concurred with her and was very firm about proper indexing of all documents to be submitted to the court in relation to the case.

Nirav Modi & Vijay Mallya to share same jail cell in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail: Judge ask prosecution

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - March 30th, 2019

London's Westminster Magistrate court today rejected <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pnb-scam-accused-nirav-modi-produced-in-uk-court-bail-hearing-underway-206513">fugitive businessman Nirav Modi's</a> bail plea and remanded him to&nbsp;custody.

Nirav Modi's attempt to try and seek citizenship of Vanuatu shows he was trying to move away from India at an important time, the UK judge said.

The judge&nbsp;said there are "substantial grounds" to believe the fugitive diamantaire will fail to surrender.

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Looking more dishevelled and dressed in a similar white shirt as his first court appearance last week, the 48-year-old was brought to the dock to be produced before Westminster Magistrates Court chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot and sat behind a glass enclosure as the hearing got underway.

Rejecting Modi's bail plea after hearing both defence and prosecution, Judge Arbuthnot said his attempt to try and seek citizenship of Vanuatu, a remote island country located in the South Pacific Ocean, shows he was trying to move away from India at an important time.

The judge&nbsp;fixed April 26 as the next date of hearing.&nbsp;Modi will appear via video link from jail at the next hearing.

In the final submission, Toby Cadman, representing crown prosecution on behalf of Indian authorities, said: "Nirav Modi isn't cooperating with Indian agencies and there's a risk he'll fly out. There's a risk that he'll influence witnesses and destroy evidence."

Earlier in the day, a joint team of Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) and Enforcement Directorate officials(ED) officials opposed Nirav's bail plea.

A new file with additional evidence against Nirav Modi was submitted in Westminster Magistrates Court ahead of the fugitive diamantaire's appearance before a judge here for his bail second application.

The diamond merchant was denied bail by District Judge Marie Mallon at his first hearing soon after his arrest by Scotland Yard officers from a central London bank branch as he tried to open a new bank account and was in custody at the HMP Wandsworth prison in south-west London since last Wednesday.

At his first court appearance after his arrest last week, the Crown Prosecution Service(CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian authorities had told the court that Modi is wanted for alleged "high value and sophisticated" fraud and money laundering amounting to $2 billion.

(Inputs PTI)

London's Westminster Magistrate court today rejected fugitive businessman Nirav Modi's bail plea and remanded him to custody. Nirav Modi's attempt to try and seek citizenship of Vanuatu shows he was trying to move away from India at an important time, the UK judge said.

London's Westminster Magistrate court today rejected fugitive businessman Nirav Modi's bail plea and remanded him to custody. Nirav Modi's attempt to try and seek citizenship of Vanuatu shows he was trying to move away from India at an important time, the UK judge said. The judge said there are "substantial grounds" to believe the fugitive diamantaire will fail to surrender. Looking more dishevelled and dressed in a similar white shirt as his first court appearance last week, the 48-year-old was brought to the dock to be produced before Westminster Magistrates Court chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot and sat behind a glass enclosure as the hearing got underway. Rejecting Modi's bail plea after hearing both defence and prosecution, Judge Arbuthnot said his attempt to try and seek citizenship of Vanuatu, a remote island country located in the South Pacific Ocean, shows he was trying to move away from India at an important time. The judge fixed April 26 as the next date of hearing. Modi will appear via video link from jail at the next hearing. In the final submission, Toby Cadman, representing crown prosecution on behalf of Indian authorities, said: "Nirav Modi isn't cooperating with Indian agencies and there's a risk he'll fly out. There's a risk that he'll influence witnesses and destroy evidence." Earlier in the day, a joint team of Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) and Enforcement Directorate officials(ED) officials opposed Nirav's bail plea. A new file with additional evidence against Nirav Modi was submitted in Westminster Magistrates Court ahead of the fugitive diamantaire's appearance before a judge here for his bail second application. The diamond merchant was denied bail by District Judge Marie Mallon at his first hearing soon after his arrest by Scotland Yard officers from a central London bank branch as he tried to open a new bank account and was in custody at the HMP Wandsworth prison in south-west London since last Wednesday. At his first court appearance after his arrest last week, the Crown Prosecution Service(CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian authorities had told the court that Modi is wanted for alleged "high value and sophisticated" fraud and money laundering amounting to $2 billion. (Inputs PTI)

UK court rejects Nirav Modi's bail plea, remands him to custody

A joint team of Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate officials arrived in London on Thursday for fugitive diamantaire <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vijay-mallya-appeal-moves-forward-as-nirav-modi-set-for-uk-court-hearing-206323">Nirav Modi's bail hearing</a>, which is scheduled on Friday in Westminster Magistrate court.

"Agencies have enough evidence against Nirav Modi, the (CPS) Crown Prosecution Service in London is likely to oppose Nirav Modi's bail application on March 29," said one of the joint directors part of the joint ED/CBI team that arrived in London today.

The combined agency team that travelled from Delhi is spearheaded by the Joint Director and rank officers from Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation, who will be present in court during Nirav Modi's hearing.&nbsp;

The judge who will be presiding over Nirav Modi's case will be hearing a case built by Indian authorities for the extradition of Modi, wanted in India for fraud and money laundering of close to $2 billion.&nbsp;

The 48-year-old Modi has been lodged in HMP Wandsworth prison since last Wednesday after he was arrested by Scotland Yard while trying to open a bank account in Central London near the Holborn metro station.&nbsp;

A judge subsequently denied Modi's bail plea.

"Officers of the agency will be brief and provide all legal assistance before the (CPS) Crown Prosecution Service... latest charge sheet copy, non-bailable warrant copy, properties attachment list and investigation documents of Nirav and his wife Ami Modi have already been discussed," revealed the source who wished to remain anonymous due to proximity to the legal case.

The Crown Prosecution Service will be aided by the joint Indian team of CBI and ED officials during Friday's hearing on Nirav Modi's bail plea.

A joint team of Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate officials arrived in London on Thursday for fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's bail hearing, which is scheduled on Friday in Westminster Magistrate court.

A joint team of Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate officials arrived in London on Thursday for fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's bail hearing, which is scheduled on Friday in Westminster Magistrate court. "Agencies have enough evidence against Nirav Modi, the (CPS) Crown Prosecution Service in London is likely to oppose Nirav Modi's bail application on March 29," said one of the joint directors part of the joint ED/CBI team that arrived in London today. The combined agency team that travelled from Delhi is spearheaded by the Joint Director and rank officers from Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation, who will be present in court during Nirav Modi's hearing. The judge who will be presiding over Nirav Modi's case will be hearing a case built by Indian authorities for the extradition of Modi, wanted in India for fraud and money laundering of close to $2 billion. The 48-year-old Modi has been lodged in HMP Wandsworth prison since last Wednesday after he was arrested by Scotland Yard while trying to open a bank account in Central London near the Holborn metro station. A judge subsequently denied Modi's bail plea. "Officers of the agency will be brief and provide all legal assistance before the (CPS) Crown Prosecution Service... latest charge sheet copy, non-bailable warrant copy, properties attachment list and investigation documents of Nirav and his wife Ami Modi have already been discussed," revealed the source who wished to remain anonymous due to proximity to the legal case. The Crown Prosecution Service will be aided by the joint Indian team of CBI and ED officials during Friday's hearing on Nirav Modi's bail plea.

Joint CBI, ED team to be present during fugitive Nirav Modi's bail plea hearing today

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pnb-scam-accused-nirav-modi-produced-in-uk-court-bail-hearing-underway-206513">PNB scam accused Nirav Modi produced in UK court, bail hearing underway</a>

Fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, 48, was produced in&nbsp;London's Westminster Magistrate&nbsp;court on Friday for bail hearing as India made extradition for the PNB bank fraud accused.

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The second round of India-Pakistan talks to decide on the&nbsp;modalities of Kartarpur corridor&nbsp;has been postponed after New Delhi raised the concern of Islamabad appointing Khalistani elements in the 10-member committee for managing the corridor.

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US and European regulators knew at least two years before a Lion Air crash that the usual method for controlling the&nbsp;Boeing 737 MAX's nose angle might not work in conditions similar to those in two recent disasters, a document shows.

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China's Huawei Technologies turned in a&nbsp;higher annual profit on recordhandset sales even as it continued to grapple with heightened global scrutiny amid allegations of espionage.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-lawmakers-to-vote-for-pivotal-vote-on-mays-brexit-deal-206494">UK lawmakers to vote for </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-lawmakers-to-vote-for-pivotal-vote-on-mays-brexit-deal-206494">pivotal</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-lawmakers-to-vote-for-pivotal-vote-on-mays-brexit-deal-206494"> vote on May's Brexit deal</a>

MPs are set for a momentous third vote Friday on&nbsp;Prime Minister Theresa May's&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;divorce deal, which could end a months-long crisis or risk Britain crashing out of the EU in two weeks.

PNB scam accused Nirav Modi produced in UK court, bail hearing underway Fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, 48, was produced in London's Westminster Magistrate court on Friday for bail hearing as India made extradition for the PNB bank fraud accused.

PNB scam accused Nirav Modi produced in UK court, bail hearing underway Fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, 48, was produced in London's Westminster Magistrate court on Friday for bail hearing as India made extradition for the PNB bank fraud accused. Kartarpur talks postponed as Pakistan's Khalistan support raises concerns The second round of India-Pakistan talks to decide on the modalities of Kartarpur corridor has been postponed after New Delhi raised the concern of Islamabad appointing Khalistani elements in the 10-member committee for managing the corridor. Regulators knew before crashes that 737 MAX trim control was confusing in some conditions: Document US and European regulators knew at least two years before a Lion Air crash that the usual method for controlling the Boeing 737 MAX's nose angle might not work in conditions similar to those in two recent disasters, a document shows. US has loser's attitude as it cannot compete against Huawei: Chairman Guo Ping China's Huawei Technologies turned in a higher annual profit on recordhandset sales even as it continued to grapple with heightened global scrutiny amid allegations of espionage. UK lawmakers to vote for pivotal vote on May's Brexit deal MPs are set for a momentous third vote Friday on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit divorce deal, which could end a months-long crisis or risk Britain crashing out of the EU in two weeks.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, 48, was produced in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fugitive-nirav-modi-tracked-down-to-8-million-pound-swanky-apartment-in-london-202128">London's Westminster Magistrate</a> court on Friday for bail hearing as India made extradition for the PNB bank fraud accused.

A joint team of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nirav-modi-fugitive-diamantaire-and-indias-most-wanted-184963"> Central Bureau of Investigation</a> and Enforcement Directorate officials arrived in London to oppose Nirav's bail. The team is headed by Joint Director and rank officers from Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), on behalf of Indian authorities, submitted the additional file of evidence in court. 
"It's a big file with only a few papers," said Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot, on being handed the file by CPS barrister Toby Cadman.

Arbuthnot is the same judge who had ordered the extradition of former Kingfisher Airlines boss Vijay Mallya last December.&nbsp; 
The defence is deliberating over that new file.

Toby Cadman, representing the crown prosecution on behalf of the Indian authorities in London's Westminster Magistrate court, said: "In case Nirav Modi gets bail, we will appeal against it in the High Court. We will do everything to keep him in."

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Nirav Modi had fled India last year after authorities uncovered the $2 billion loan default scam in Mumbai's Punjab and National Bank(PNB). India had revoked his passport and made two extradition requests to the UK, one from the CBI and the other from the Enforcement Directorate(ED).

Nirav's bail plea was denied by the UK court last week after the judge found his case "too risky".&nbsp;

Nirav Modi's counsel, George Hepburne, said that the case had a political motivation and that the conditions of Indian jails are not good. This was rejected by the judge.

He was arrested on March 19th from London's Holborn area. A bank clerk reportedly recognised him and called the police after which he was arrested.

India had approached Interpol regarding Nirav and in July of 2018, a red corner notice(RCN) was issued against him.

Fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, 48, was produced in London's Westminster Magistrate court on Friday for bail hearing as India made extradition for the PNB bank fraud accused.

Fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, 48, was produced in London's Westminster Magistrate court on Friday for bail hearing as India made extradition for the PNB bank fraud accused. A joint team of Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate officials arrived in London to oppose Nirav's bail. The team is headed by Joint Director and rank officers from Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), on behalf of Indian authorities, submitted the additional file of evidence in court. "It's a big file with only a few papers," said Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot, on being handed the file by CPS barrister Toby Cadman. Arbuthnot is the same judge who had ordered the extradition of former Kingfisher Airlines boss Vijay Mallya last December. The defence is deliberating over that new file. Toby Cadman, representing the crown prosecution on behalf of the Indian authorities in London's Westminster Magistrate court, said: "In case Nirav Modi gets bail, we will appeal against it in the High Court. We will do everything to keep him in." Nirav Modi had fled India last year after authorities uncovered the $2 billion loan default scam in Mumbai's Punjab and National Bank(PNB). India had revoked his passport and made two extradition requests to the UK, one from the CBI and the other from the Enforcement Directorate(ED). Nirav's bail plea was denied by the UK court last week after the judge found his case "too risky". Nirav Modi's counsel, George Hepburne, said that the case had a political motivation and that the conditions of Indian jails are not good. This was rejected by the judge. He was arrested on March 19th from London's Holborn area. A bank clerk reportedly recognised him and called the police after which he was arrested. India had approached Interpol regarding Nirav and in July of 2018, a red corner notice(RCN) was issued against him.

PNB scam accused Nirav Modi produced in UK court, bail hearing underway

Nirav Modi to appear before Westminister Magistrates Court today

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - March 29th 2019

The stage is set for a busy period of Indian extradition-related activity in the UK courts as liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s High Court appeal moves forward for a judge’s verdict on paperwork and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi returns to Westminster Magistrates’ Court here for a second bail hearing on Friday.&nbsp;

“All the papers have been received and are now awaiting allocation to a single judge who will decide, on the basis of those papers, if permission is given to go to a full hearing,” said a spokesperson for the UK judiciary, in reference to Mallya’s application seeking an appeal against his extradition ordered by the magistrates’ court and then signed off by UK home secretary Sajid Javid last month.

While there is no set timescale for the judge to pronounce a decision on whether Mallya will be granted an appeal in the UK High Court, a decision is likely within the next few weeks. The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss, wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to about Rs 9,000 crore, took to social media yet again to claim unfair treatment in the context of struggling Indian airlines Jet Airways being thrown a lifeline by public sector banks.

In her ruling at the end of his extradition trial in December last year, Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot had concluded that Mallya has a case to answer in the Indian courts over substantial “misrepresentations” of his financial dealings.&nbsp;

“There is clear evidence of dispersal and misapplication of the loan funds and I find a prima facie case that Dr Mallya was involved in a conspiracy to launder money,” she noted.

Now, the same judge is expected to preside over the next major Indian extradition trial to come before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, that of diamantaire Modi – wanted for alleged “high value and sophisticated” fraud and money laundering amounting to USD 2 billion. “He is expected to be produced before the court for a second bail application hearing on March 29,” a court official said.

 
Meanwhile, the 48-year-old has been lodged in HMP Wandsworth prison in south-west London since last Wednesday, when a judge had declined his request for bail on the grounds that he posed a flight risk.

Describing him as the “opposite of a flight risk” during the first bail application hearing last week, Modi’s defence team had offered 500,000 pounds as security and also submitted to any stringent conditions that may be imposed upon their client.&nbsp; It remains to be seen how they would further bolster that offer in order to convince the judge to grant bail during the second hearing, following which the case will proceed to a series of case management hearings and setting of a trial date.

Modi was arrested by the Scotland Yard officers from a bank in central London as he attempted to open a new bank account on March 19.

 
During his first court appearance a day after, it emerged that the diamantaire accused of defrauding India’s state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) via fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) had been in possession of multiple passports since revoked by the Indian authorities.

While one passport is now in possession of the Metropolitan Police, a second expired passport is lying with the UK Home Office and a third with the UK’s Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) for a driver’s licence. Besides the passports, Modi also possesses multiple residency cards, some of them expired but covering countries such as the UAE, Singapore and Hong Kong. His defence team tried to establish his very “visible” and “lawful” residence at his luxury Centre Point apartment in London’s West End, paying his local council tax and also using a National Insurance number, allocated to legal UK residents for purposes of work.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian authorities, had challenged all claims to counter the first bail plea and pointed out that Modi had “deliberately evaded justice” and not returned to India despite a series of criminal summons issued by Indian courts. The CPS will now be joined by a joint Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) team that has arrived from India to assist with Modi’s extradition case.

The stage is set for a busy period of Indian extradition-related activity in the UK courts as liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s High Court appeal moves forward for a judge’s verdict on paperwork and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi returns to Westminster Magistrates’ Court here for a second bail hearing on Friday.

The stage is set for a busy period of Indian extradition-related activity in the UK courts as liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s High Court appeal moves forward for a judge’s verdict on paperwork and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi returns to Westminster Magistrates’ Court here for a second bail hearing on Friday. “All the papers have been received and are now awaiting allocation to a single judge who will decide, on the basis of those papers, if permission is given to go to a full hearing,” said a spokesperson for the UK judiciary, in reference to Mallya’s application seeking an appeal against his extradition ordered by the magistrates’ court and then signed off by UK home secretary Sajid Javid last month. While there is no set timescale for the judge to pronounce a decision on whether Mallya will be granted an appeal in the UK High Court, a decision is likely within the next few weeks. The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss, wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to about Rs 9,000 crore, took to social media yet again to claim unfair treatment in the context of struggling Indian airlines Jet Airways being thrown a lifeline by public sector banks. In her ruling at the end of his extradition trial in December last year, Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot had concluded that Mallya has a case to answer in the Indian courts over substantial “misrepresentations” of his financial dealings. “There is clear evidence of dispersal and misapplication of the loan funds and I find a prima facie case that Dr Mallya was involved in a conspiracy to launder money,” she noted. Now, the same judge is expected to preside over the next major Indian extradition trial to come before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, that of diamantaire Modi – wanted for alleged “high value and sophisticated” fraud and money laundering amounting to USD 2 billion. “He is expected to be produced before the court for a second bail application hearing on March 29,” a court official said. Meanwhile, the 48-year-old has been lodged in HMP Wandsworth prison in south-west London since last Wednesday, when a judge had declined his request for bail on the grounds that he posed a flight risk. Describing him as the “opposite of a flight risk” during the first bail application hearing last week, Modi’s defence team had offered 500,000 pounds as security and also submitted to any stringent conditions that may be imposed upon their client. It remains to be seen how they would further bolster that offer in order to convince the judge to grant bail during the second hearing, following which the case will proceed to a series of case management hearings and setting of a trial date. Modi was arrested by the Scotland Yard officers from a bank in central London as he attempted to open a new bank account on March 19. During his first court appearance a day after, it emerged that the diamantaire accused of defrauding India’s state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) via fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) had been in possession of multiple passports since revoked by the Indian authorities. While one passport is now in possession of the Metropolitan Police, a second expired passport is lying with the UK Home Office and a third with the UK’s Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) for a driver’s licence. Besides the passports, Modi also possesses multiple residency cards, some of them expired but covering countries such as the UAE, Singapore and Hong Kong. His defence team tried to establish his very “visible” and “lawful” residence at his luxury Centre Point apartment in London’s West End, paying his local council tax and also using a National Insurance number, allocated to legal UK residents for purposes of work. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian authorities, had challenged all claims to counter the first bail plea and pointed out that Modi had “deliberately evaded justice” and not returned to India despite a series of criminal summons issued by Indian courts. The CPS will now be joined by a joint Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) team that has arrived from India to assist with Modi’s extradition case.

Vijay Mallya appeal moves forward as Nirav Modi set for UK court hearing

The CBI will send a team of its officials for the hearing in the loan default case against businessman Nirav Modi on March 29 in London.

Modi was arrested by the Scotland Yard in London last week in the connection with the case.&nbsp;

A day after the arrest, he was sent to jail by a London court till March 29.

Modi sought bail and offered 5 lakh pounds but the court rejected it, saying that there was substantial ground to believe that the businessman may not surrender.&nbsp;

His counsel had told the court that he has provided documents to the police including travel documents. His lawyer also showed employment pass, Hong Kong ID card, other bank cards to bring home his point.

The fugitive diamond merchant is wanted for his alleged involvement in Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan default case.

A non-bailable warrant (NBW) has also been issued against Ami Modi, wife of Nirav, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Enforcement Directorate (ED) sources had earlier said.&nbsp;

The CBI will send a team of its officials for the hearing in the loan default case against businessman Nirav Modi on March 29 in London. Modi was arrested by the Scotland Yard in London last week in the connection with the case.

The CBI will send a team of its officials for the hearing in the loan default case against businessman Nirav Modi on March 29 in London. Modi was arrested by the Scotland Yard in London last week in the connection with the case. A day after the arrest, he was sent to jail by a London court till March 29. Modi sought bail and offered 5 lakh pounds but the court rejected it, saying that there was substantial ground to believe that the businessman may not surrender. His counsel had told the court that he has provided documents to the police including travel documents. His lawyer also showed employment pass, Hong Kong ID card, other bank cards to bring home his point. The fugitive diamond merchant is wanted for his alleged involvement in Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan default case. A non-bailable warrant (NBW) has also been issued against Ami Modi, wife of Nirav, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Enforcement Directorate (ED) sources had earlier said.

CBI team to attend Nirav Modi's case hearing in London on March 29

Nirav Modi's paintings fetch Rs 55 Crore

The income tax department Tuesday evening auctioned the artworks owned by the absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi, who fled the country after duping state-run lender PNB of a whopping Rs 14,000 crore, for Rs 59.37 crore.

Of the gross proceeds, the department will get a net of Rs 54.84 crore, with the rest being the commission to the auction house Saffronart and the buyers' premium.

This is the first time that a government department has sold artworks adopting the auction-route involving a professional art-house. The department had put up a total of 68 works for auction to recover Rs 97 crore from the scamster.

An untitled work by the abstract artist VS Gaitonde fetched a winning bid of Rs 25.24 crore, including the buyer's premium, which, however, is lower than the Rs 29.3 crore his work had fetched in 2015, making it the most expensive bid for an artwork from the country ever.

The great Raja Ravi Varma's 1881 work depicting the Maharaja of Travancore and his younger brother welcoming Richard Temple-Grenville, and Chandos, the third duke of Buckingham and the governor general of Madras, got sold for Rs 16.10 crore through a phone bid.

Potential investors and artlovers started trickling in into the central Mumbai gallery Tuesday evening, but it was the bids over the phones and the Net which were higher at the auctions that began early evening but extended through the course of late night.

None of the artworks, "lots" in auction-speak, saw intense bidding, though. As many as 13 works out of 68 had to be passed or returned unsold as the bids were lower than the reserved price.

Barring a few works which could not be sold, many of the artworks were sold at prices above the reserve price. Modi's collection of paintings by FN Souza which saw significant interest from the collectors, with "cityscape" and "golly-wog" notching up bids of over Rs 1 crore each.

Akbar Padamsee's "Grey Nude" completed in 1960 got a winning bid of Rs 1.72 crore as against an expected price of Rs 1.5-2 crore.

Throughout the bidding that lasted over 120 minutes, eight dedicated agents worked frantically on the phones getting the bids from investors and art lovers.

The online bids came in from diverse places like Seattle in the US, Toronto in Canada and Belgium in Northwestern Europe, which has emerged as the nerve-centre of the global diamond trade now.

Works by some Chinese artists also generated considerable interest among the bidders, with all of them fetching more-than-expected prices.

Every buyer will have to pay a 15 per cent premium for works costing up to Rs 20 crore, while the same for the ones above Rs 20 crore is a tad lower at 12 per cent. The premium goes to the art gallery. A successful bidder has to pay 10 per cent of the amount plus the buyers' premium within four days and pay up the remaining in a month's time.

The sale is being undertaken under relevant sections of the Income Tax Act of 1961. The department was looking to raise up to Rs 97 crore, which is the tax liabilities of Modi shell firm Camelot Enterprises.

The tax department reportedly discovered the paintings in a climate-controlled room at his house in the metropolis.

As many as 68 artworks went under the hammer this evening and included works by the greats like Raja Ravi Varma, VS Gaitonde, FN Souza, Jogen Chowdhury, and Akbar Padamsee among others to recover dues and the department was expecting to mop up over Rs 97 crore from the artworks which had a reserve price of Rs 50 crore.

The income tax department Tuesday evening auctioned the artworks owned by the absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi, who fled the country after duping state-run lender PNB of a whopping Rs 14,000 crore, for Rs 59.

The income tax department Tuesday evening auctioned the artworks owned by the absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi, who fled the country after duping state-run lender PNB of a whopping Rs 14,000 crore, for Rs 59.37 crore. Of the gross proceeds, the department will get a net of Rs 54.84 crore, with the rest being the commission to the auction house Saffronart and the buyers' premium. This is the first time that a government department has sold artworks adopting the auction-route involving a professional art-house. The department had put up a total of 68 works for auction to recover Rs 97 crore from the scamster. An untitled work by the abstract artist VS Gaitonde fetched a winning bid of Rs 25.24 crore, including the buyer's premium, which, however, is lower than the Rs 29.3 crore his work had fetched in 2015, making it the most expensive bid for an artwork from the country ever. The great Raja Ravi Varma's 1881 work depicting the Maharaja of Travancore and his younger brother welcoming Richard Temple-Grenville, and Chandos, the third duke of Buckingham and the governor general of Madras, got sold for Rs 16.10 crore through a phone bid. Potential investors and artlovers started trickling in into the central Mumbai gallery Tuesday evening, but it was the bids over the phones and the Net which were higher at the auctions that began early evening but extended through the course of late night. None of the artworks, "lots" in auction-speak, saw intense bidding, though. As many as 13 works out of 68 had to be passed or returned unsold as the bids were lower than the reserved price. Barring a few works which could not be sold, many of the artworks were sold at prices above the reserve price. Modi's collection of paintings by FN Souza which saw significant interest from the collectors, with "cityscape" and "golly-wog" notching up bids of over Rs 1 crore each. Akbar Padamsee's "Grey Nude" completed in 1960 got a winning bid of Rs 1.72 crore as against an expected price of Rs 1.5-2 crore. Throughout the bidding that lasted over 120 minutes, eight dedicated agents worked frantically on the phones getting the bids from investors and art lovers. The online bids came in from diverse places like Seattle in the US, Toronto in Canada and Belgium in Northwestern Europe, which has emerged as the nerve-centre of the global diamond trade now. Works by some Chinese artists also generated considerable interest among the bidders, with all of them fetching more-than-expected prices. Every buyer will have to pay a 15 per cent premium for works costing up to Rs 20 crore, while the same for the ones above Rs 20 crore is a tad lower at 12 per cent. The premium goes to the art gallery. A successful bidder has to pay 10 per cent of the amount plus the buyers' premium within four days and pay up the remaining in a month's time. The sale is being undertaken under relevant sections of the Income Tax Act of 1961. The department was looking to raise up to Rs 97 crore, which is the tax liabilities of Modi shell firm Camelot Enterprises. The tax department reportedly discovered the paintings in a climate-controlled room at his house in the metropolis. As many as 68 artworks went under the hammer this evening and included works by the greats like Raja Ravi Varma, VS Gaitonde, FN Souza, Jogen Chowdhury, and Akbar Padamsee among others to recover dues and the department was expecting to mop up over Rs 97 crore from the artworks which had a reserve price of Rs 50 crore.

Tax department raises Rs 55 crore from selling Nirav Modi paintings

Absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi's artworks fetch Rs 59.37 crore at an auction by the income tax department Tuesday evening in Mumbai.

In first of its kind auction in India, where tax authorities have usually auctioned property, gold and luxury items, but not art, 68 paintings were to be sold.

The Income Tax Department appointed professional auction house Saffronart after a special court allowed it to sell artworks seized from the fugitive businessman.

Modi was arrested in London last week. He was remanded in custody till March 29 by a court there. Modi and his uncle, Mehul Choksi, another accused in the case, had left India before the fraud came to light in January 2018.

The Income Tax Department had last month provisionally attached 29 properties and 105 bank accounts of Modi, his family members and firms as part of its probe.

The taxman had also filed a charge sheet against Modi before the special court under sections 276 C (1) (willful attempt to evade tax), 277 A (false statement in verification), 278 B (offences by companies) and 278 E (presumption as to culpable mental state) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

(With inputs from agencies)

Absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi's artworks fetch Rs 59.37 crore at an auction by the income tax department Tuesday evening in Mumbai. In first of its kind auction in India, where tax authorities have usually auctioned property, gold and luxury items, but not art, 68 paintings were to be sold.

Absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi's artworks fetch Rs 59.37 crore at an auction by the income tax department Tuesday evening in Mumbai. In first of its kind auction in India, where tax authorities have usually auctioned property, gold and luxury items, but not art, 68 paintings were to be sold. The Income Tax Department appointed professional auction house Saffronart after a special court allowed it to sell artworks seized from the fugitive businessman. Modi was arrested in London last week. He was remanded in custody till March 29 by a court there. Modi and his uncle, Mehul Choksi, another accused in the case, had left India before the fraud came to light in January 2018. The Income Tax Department had last month provisionally attached 29 properties and 105 bank accounts of Modi, his family members and firms as part of its probe. The taxman had also filed a charge sheet against Modi before the special court under sections 276 C (1) (willful attempt to evade tax), 277 A (false statement in verification), 278 B (offences by companies) and 278 E (presumption as to culpable mental state) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. (With inputs from agencies)

I-T department earns Rs 59.37 crore selling Nirav Modi's artworks

London's Westminster court on Wednesday remanded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-nirav-modi-denied-bail-to-stay-in-london-jail-204562">Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam</a>&nbsp;accused Nirav Modi, 48, in&nbsp;custody.&nbsp;It was the first time the fugitive businessman had been in court.

Nirav's whereabouts were a hot button issue in India;&nbsp;he was reportedly arrested as he was trying to open a bank account. A bank clerk recognised him from his passport and called the police. His lawyer, however, argued in court that Nirav, an economic offender, had been living openly in the UK.

The judge hearing the case agreed with the prosecution and decided not to grant bail. The scam accused was remanded in custody till March 29.

Before making his decision, the judge took a ten-minute break and then dismissed Nirav's bail plea. The judge did not consider the possibility of giving him bail.

Modi had offered half a million pounds for his bail but the judge refused to entertain his plea since he found him "too risky". Nirav Modi's counsel, George Hepburne, said that the case had&nbsp;a political motivation and that the conditions of Indian jails are not good. This was rejected by the judge.

According to procedure, a case has to be heard in India against Nirav of defrauding Punjab National Bank;&nbsp;if it&nbsp;is proved, then the judge might extradite him.

District judge Marie Mallon denied bail to Modi and remanded him to&nbsp;custody, saying there was substantial grounds to believe that he would fail to surrender if granted bail.

The judge who will hear the case is Emma Arbuthnot who is hearing Vijay Mallya's case.

Mallya, 63,&nbsp;has since filed an application seeking leave to appeal against his extradition ordered by UK home secretary Sajid Javid last month.

Nirav Modi's&nbsp;arrest came days after a London court issued an arrest warrant against him in response to a request by the Enforcement Directorate(ED) for his extradition in a money laundering case.

Modi and his uncle, Mehul Choksi, are the main accused in the PNB scam and they both left India before the details of the fraud came to light in January 2018.
<img alt="Nirav Modi to stay in jail till March 29th" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d16bc8d4-48df-454b-a35e-775e215c83e7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Modi.jpg" />
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London's Westminster court on Wednesday remanded Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Nirav Modi, 48, in custody. It was the first time the fugitive businessman had been in court.

London's Westminster court on Wednesday remanded Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Nirav Modi, 48, in custody. It was the first time the fugitive businessman had been in court. Nirav's whereabouts were a hot button issue in India; he was reportedly arrested as he was trying to open a bank account. A bank clerk recognised him from his passport and called the police. His lawyer, however, argued in court that Nirav, an economic offender, had been living openly in the UK. The judge hearing the case agreed with the prosecution and decided not to grant bail. The scam accused was remanded in custody till March 29. Before making his decision, the judge took a ten-minute break and then dismissed Nirav's bail plea. The judge did not consider the possibility of giving him bail. Modi had offered half a million pounds for his bail but the judge refused to entertain his plea since he found him "too risky". Nirav Modi's counsel, George Hepburne, said that the case had a political motivation and that the conditions of Indian jails are not good. This was rejected by the judge. According to procedure, a case has to be heard in India against Nirav of defrauding Punjab National Bank; if it is proved, then the judge might extradite him. District judge Marie Mallon denied bail to Modi and remanded him to custody, saying there was substantial grounds to believe that he would fail to surrender if granted bail. The judge who will hear the case is Emma Arbuthnot who is hearing Vijay Mallya's case. Mallya, 63, has since filed an application seeking leave to appeal against his extradition ordered by UK home secretary Sajid Javid last month. Nirav Modi's arrest came days after a London court issued an arrest warrant against him in response to a request by the Enforcement Directorate(ED) for his extradition in a money laundering case. Modi and his uncle, Mehul Choksi, are the main accused in the PNB scam and they both left India before the details of the fraud came to light in January 2018.

PNB scam: How a bank clerk recognised Nirav Modi and called London Police

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India on fraud and money laundering charges amounting to USD 2 billion, spent Holi behind bars in one of England's most overcrowded jails on Thursday, a day after a UK judge rejected his bail application.

The 48-year-old was arrested by Scotland Yard on Tuesday and presented before District Judge Marie Mallon at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The judge remanded him in custody till March 29 after which he was transferred to Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) Wandsworth in south-west London.

While he would hope to be held in a separate cell, the overcrowding pressures of the jail may mean him sharing a prison cell with any of its around 1,430 male prisoners.

Modi, one of India's richest men accustomed to the high-life and celebrity circles around the world, will be faced with some harsh conditions at the prison amid some dubious inmates.

During the most recent inspection carried out in February-March 2018, the Victorian-era jail was found by UK Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke to be "one of the most overcrowded in England and Wales" and filled with many men with drug or mental health problems, receiving poor training and education.

"Despite six self-inflicted deaths since the last inspection, it was concerning to find that not all staff were carrying anti-ligature knives, that no staff would enter a cell alone even if a prisoner's life was in danger and that the response to cell call bells was totally inadequate," he noted.

Prison cells designed for one prisoner are often occupied by two, with poorly-screened lavatories and inmates being allowed far too little time out of their cells, his inspection had concluded.

The living conditions will certainly be in stark contrast to the luxury apartment at Centre Point in the West End of London where Modi has been living over the past year, as it was confirmed during court proceedings on Wednesday.

"He has done everything he possibly can to be visible, to demonstrate his keenness to fully cooperate [with UK authorities], George Hepburne Scott, Modi's Barrister, told the court in support of his bail application.

Among the details that emerged during the hearing, it was claimed that Modi was in the UK "lawfully", having acquired a National Insurance No. offered only to legal residents to be able to live and work in the UK.&nbsp;

He had reportedly also been paying his Council Tax, which is a local tax paid by a UK resident to the local authority and also serves as an identity document for address proof. Based on this, he also received an offer from the UK electoral register to register to vote and had submitted one of three passports to the UK's Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to apply for a driver's licence.

However, Modi's defence team's efforts to establish his credibility as a lawful UK resident who had no intention of jumping bail and fleeing were strongly objected to by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian authorities.

The judge, in the end, ruled in favour of the Indian authorities, concluding that the wanted diamantaire had "substantial grounds" to fail to surrender, and remanded him in custody until his next hearing, scheduled for March 29.

The court was told that Modi is wanted by the Indian authorities for his role as a partner in a number of entities, namely Diamonds R Us, Stellar Diamonds and Solar Exports, involved in the laundering of money and the fraudulent issuing of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) to Punjab National Bank (PNB).&nbsp;

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India on fraud and money laundering charges amounting to USD 2 billion, spent Holi behind bars in one of England's most overcrowded jails on Thursday, a day after a UK judge rejected his bail application.

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India on fraud and money laundering charges amounting to USD 2 billion, spent Holi behind bars in one of England's most overcrowded jails on Thursday, a day after a UK judge rejected his bail application. The 48-year-old was arrested by Scotland Yard on Tuesday and presented before District Judge Marie Mallon at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Wednesday. The judge remanded him in custody till March 29 after which he was transferred to Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) Wandsworth in south-west London. While he would hope to be held in a separate cell, the overcrowding pressures of the jail may mean him sharing a prison cell with any of its around 1,430 male prisoners. Modi, one of India's richest men accustomed to the high-life and celebrity circles around the world, will be faced with some harsh conditions at the prison amid some dubious inmates. During the most recent inspection carried out in February-March 2018, the Victorian-era jail was found by UK Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke to be "one of the most overcrowded in England and Wales" and filled with many men with drug or mental health problems, receiving poor training and education. "Despite six self-inflicted deaths since the last inspection, it was concerning to find that not all staff were carrying anti-ligature knives, that no staff would enter a cell alone even if a prisoner's life was in danger and that the response to cell call bells was totally inadequate," he noted. Prison cells designed for one prisoner are often occupied by two, with poorly-screened lavatories and inmates being allowed far too little time out of their cells, his inspection had concluded. The living conditions will certainly be in stark contrast to the luxury apartment at Centre Point in the West End of London where Modi has been living over the past year, as it was confirmed during court proceedings on Wednesday. "He has done everything he possibly can to be visible, to demonstrate his keenness to fully cooperate [with UK authorities], George Hepburne Scott, Modi's Barrister, told the court in support of his bail application. Among the details that emerged during the hearing, it was claimed that Modi was in the UK "lawfully", having acquired a National Insurance No. offered only to legal residents to be able to live and work in the UK. He had reportedly also been paying his Council Tax, which is a local tax paid by a UK resident to the local authority and also serves as an identity document for address proof. Based on this, he also received an offer from the UK electoral register to register to vote and had submitted one of three passports to the UK's Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to apply for a driver's licence. However, Modi's defence team's efforts to establish his credibility as a lawful UK resident who had no intention of jumping bail and fleeing were strongly objected to by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian authorities. The judge, in the end, ruled in favour of the Indian authorities, concluding that the wanted diamantaire had "substantial grounds" to fail to surrender, and remanded him in custody until his next hearing, scheduled for March 29. The court was told that Modi is wanted by the Indian authorities for his role as a partner in a number of entities, namely Diamonds R Us, Stellar Diamonds and Solar Exports, involved in the laundering of money and the fraudulent issuing of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) to Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Not a very Happy Holi for Nirav Modi in UK jail

India Thursday welcomed the arrest of bank fraud accused Nirav Modi by British authorities in London, and said it was engaged with the UK for his extradition at the earliest.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India continued to actively follow up with the UK the case of Modi's extradition to India.&nbsp;

"We welcome the fact that Nirav Modi has been arrested by the United Kingdom authorities pursuant to the arrest warrant issued by the Westminster Magistrate Court," Kumar said.&nbsp;

"Government of India continues to actively follow up this matter with the authorities concerned in the UK, with a view to have Nirav Modi extradited to India at the earliest," he said.

The arrest of Modi, the main accused in the USD 2 billion PNB scam case, came days after a London court issued an arrest warrant against him in response to a request by the Enforcement Directorate for his extradition in a money laundering case.

On Wednesday, a court in the UK, remanded him in custody till March 29. 
Modi and his uncle, Mehul Choksi, are the main accused in the PNB scam and they both left India before the details of the fraud came to light in January 2018.

Modi is one of India's richest men, worth an estimated USD 1.75 billion, according to Forbes. He launched his own eponymous brand in 2010 and he soon had stores across India, as well as in New York, London and Hong Kong.&nbsp;

India Thursday welcomed the arrest of bank fraud accused Nirav Modi by British authorities in London, and said it was engaged with the UK for his extradition at the earliest.

India Thursday welcomed the arrest of bank fraud accused Nirav Modi by British authorities in London, and said it was engaged with the UK for his extradition at the earliest. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India continued to actively follow up with the UK the case of Modi's extradition to India. "We welcome the fact that Nirav Modi has been arrested by the United Kingdom authorities pursuant to the arrest warrant issued by the Westminster Magistrate Court," Kumar said. "Government of India continues to actively follow up this matter with the authorities concerned in the UK, with a view to have Nirav Modi extradited to India at the earliest," he said. The arrest of Modi, the main accused in the USD 2 billion PNB scam case, came days after a London court issued an arrest warrant against him in response to a request by the Enforcement Directorate for his extradition in a money laundering case. On Wednesday, a court in the UK, remanded him in custody till March 29. Modi and his uncle, Mehul Choksi, are the main accused in the PNB scam and they both left India before the details of the fraud came to light in January 2018. Modi is one of India's richest men, worth an estimated USD 1.75 billion, according to Forbes. He launched his own eponymous brand in 2010 and he soon had stores across India, as well as in New York, London and Hong Kong.

India engaged with UK for earliest extradition of Nirav Modi: MEA

UK's Westminster court has rejected <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-nirav-modi-arrested-in-london-204519">Nirav Modi's bail plea</a> and he is all set to stay in a British jail till 29th March when the court again takes up the case. He will be staying in a British jail before Westminster court again takes up his case.

Nirav Modi, the man responsible for defrauding&nbsp;the leading state-run bank - the Punjab National Bank (PNB) was presented in front of the court on Wednesday at 11:30 am London time (5 pm IST) on Wednesday.

He was arrested on Tuesday in London's Holborn area and spent the night in the cell. It was a bank clerk who actually recognised him and called the police after which he was arrested.

While Jonathan Swain from CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) is representing India, Nirav Modi's counsel is George Hepburne Scott.

Nirav Modi's counsel George Hepburne said that the case has a political motivation and conditions of Indian jails are not good. This was rejected by the judge.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rt2-EupLSZ8" width="560"></iframe>

The conditions of Indian jails was also raised during Vijay Mallya's case but despite this, his extradition to India was given a node by the UK court.

India had approached Interpol regarding Nirav and in July of 2018, a red corner notice(RCN) was issued against him. An RCN&nbsp;makes it difficult to get bail.

The development comes days after he was spotted by British newspaper The Telegraph walking in London street wearing an ostrich jacket.

He fled the country in January of 2018 when PNB first reported the scam. In February, India revoked his passport and later in August of last year, New Delhi sent two&nbsp;extradition requests to UK&nbsp;- one from CBI, another from ED regarding the extradition of the absconder businessman.

Top Indian government&nbsp;sources told WION that New Delhi has already sent relevant material to the British government&nbsp;for extradition and it up to the Westminister court to decide whether our extradition demand is genuine. The source added, at a later stage on whether a CBI representative will go to London in Nirav Modi case.

The UK Central Authority of Home Office in early March this year had sent India's extradition request to Westminster Magistrate Court for the District Judge for further proceedings.

Through fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking / Foreign Letters of Credit for payments of import bills Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi from February 2011 to May 2017 were able to dupe PNB of Rs 13,000 crore.&nbsp;

While Nirav Modi fled to the UK, Choksi fled to the Caribbean country of Antigua and Barbuda and took its citizenship.
<img alt="Nirav Modi to stay in London jail till March 29th" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33ae5786-ba90-400c-93d3-da3698469602" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Nirav%20Modi%20GFX.jpg" />
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UK's Westminster court has rejected Nirav Modi's bail plea and he is all set to stay in a British jail till 29th March when the court again takes up the case. He will be staying in a British jail before Westminster court again takes up his case.

UK's Westminster court has rejected Nirav Modi's bail plea and he is all set to stay in a British jail till 29th March when the court again takes up the case. He will be staying in a British jail before Westminster court again takes up his case. Nirav Modi, the man responsible for defrauding the leading state-run bank - the Punjab National Bank (PNB) was presented in front of the court on Wednesday at 11:30 am London time (5 pm IST) on Wednesday. He was arrested on Tuesday in London's Holborn area and spent the night in the cell. It was a bank clerk who actually recognised him and called the police after which he was arrested. While Jonathan Swain from CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) is representing India, Nirav Modi's counsel is George Hepburne Scott. Nirav Modi's counsel George Hepburne said that the case has a political motivation and conditions of Indian jails are not good. This was rejected by the judge. The conditions of Indian jails was also raised during Vijay Mallya's case but despite this, his extradition to India was given a node by the UK court. India had approached Interpol regarding Nirav and in July of 2018, a red corner notice(RCN) was issued against him. An RCN makes it difficult to get bail. The development comes days after he was spotted by British newspaper The Telegraph walking in London street wearing an ostrich jacket. He fled the country in January of 2018 when PNB first reported the scam. In February, India revoked his passport and later in August of last year, New Delhi sent two extradition requests to UK - one from CBI, another from ED regarding the extradition of the absconder businessman. Top Indian government sources told WION that New Delhi has already sent relevant material to the British government for extradition and it up to the Westminister court to decide whether our extradition demand is genuine. The source added, at a later stage on whether a CBI representative will go to London in Nirav Modi case. The UK Central Authority of Home Office in early March this year had sent India's extradition request to Westminster Magistrate Court for the District Judge for further proceedings. Through fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking / Foreign Letters of Credit for payments of import bills Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi from February 2011 to May 2017 were able to dupe PNB of Rs 13,000 crore. While Nirav Modi fled to the UK, Choksi fled to the Caribbean country of Antigua and Barbuda and took its citizenship.

PNB scam: Nirav Modi denied bail, to stay in London jail till March 29th

Non-bailable warrant issued against Nirav Modi's wife

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-nirav-modi-denied-bail-to-stay-in-london-jail-204562">PNB scam: Nirav Modi denied bail, to stay in London jail till March 29th</a>

UK's Westminster court has rejected Nirav Modi's bail plea and he is all set to stay in a British jail till 29th March when the court again takes up the case. He will be staying in a British jail before Westminster court again takes up his case.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-four-accused-in-samjhauta-blast-case-acquitted-204558">All four accused in Samjhauta blast case acquitted</a>

All four accused in the Samjhauta blast case were acquitted by the Special National Investigation Agency(NIA) Court in Panchkula today.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-signals-to-boycott-chinas-belt-and-road-forum-for-second-time-204533">India may boycott China's Belt and Road Forum for second time</a>

India on Wednesday signalled that it will boycott China's second Belt and Road Forum for a second time, saying no country can participate in an initiative that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-fines-google-149-billion-euros-for-anti-trust-breach-204538">Google fined $1.7 billion for search ad blocks in third European Union sanction</a>

Google was fined 1.49 billion euros ($1.7 billion) on Wednesday for blocking rival online search advertisers, the third large European Union antitrust penalty for the Alphabet business in two only years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/requested-brexit-delay-until-june-30-uk-pm-theresa-may-to-european-union-leaders-204557">Requested Brexit delay until June 30: UK PM Theresa May to European Union leaders</a>

Prime Minister Theresa May requested a three-month delay to Brexit on Wednesday after her failure to get a deal ratified by parliament left the United Kingdom's divorce from the European Union in turmoil.

&nbsp;

PNB scam: Nirav Modi denied bail, to stay in London jail till March 29th UK's Westminster court has rejected Nirav Modi's bail plea and he is all set to stay in a British jail till 29th March when the court again takes up the case.

PNB scam: Nirav Modi denied bail, to stay in London jail till March 29th UK's Westminster court has rejected Nirav Modi's bail plea and he is all set to stay in a British jail till 29th March when the court again takes up the case. He will be staying in a British jail before Westminster court again takes up his case. All four accused in Samjhauta blast case acquitted All four accused in the Samjhauta blast case were acquitted by the Special National Investigation Agency(NIA) Court in Panchkula today. India may boycott China's Belt and Road Forum for second time India on Wednesday signalled that it will boycott China's second Belt and Road Forum for a second time, saying no country can participate in an initiative that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity. Google fined $1.7 billion for search ad blocks in third European Union sanction Google was fined 1.49 billion euros ($1.7 billion) on Wednesday for blocking rival online search advertisers, the third large European Union antitrust penalty for the Alphabet business in two only years. Requested Brexit delay until June 30: UK PM Theresa May to European Union leaders Prime Minister Theresa May requested a three-month delay to Brexit on Wednesday after her failure to get a deal ratified by parliament left the United Kingdom's divorce from the European Union in turmoil.

Police on Tuesday arrested fugitive billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi London's Holborn metro station. Modi is the prime accused in Punjab Nation Bank (PNB) scam. He will be produced in the Westminster court at in a short while, TV reports claimed.&nbsp;

Westminster court in London on Monday issued an arrest warrant against the diamond merchant&nbsp;

 
The following is a timeline of how the case has unfolded:

January 29, 2018:

PNB files police complaint against jewellers Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and others, saying they had colluded with two of its bank staff to defraud the bank of 2.81 billion rupees ($43.16 million)

February 5, 2018:

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) says it has launched an investigation into the alleged scam. Bank tells stock exchange it is still probing the extent of the fraud

February 14, 2018:

PNB now discloses the amount involved in the fraud as $1.77 billion, adds other banks overseas advanced money to jewellers based on the fraudulent guarantees issued by its staff

February 15, 2018:

PNB Chief Executive Sunil Mehta holds a news conference, says working with law enforcement agencies, regulators, other banks

CBI says Modi, Choksi left India before PNB filed complaint

February 16, 2018:

CBI files case against Choksi’s Gitanjali Group and conducts searches at 20 of the jewellery retailers locations

PNB CEO tells analysts bank putting in place better checks and balances, hopes to recover within six months

February 17, 2018:

CBI makes first arrests in the case, two PNB employees and an executive of Nirav Modi’s group detained

Enforcement Directorate seizes a cumulative 56.74 billion rupees worth of diamonds, gold and jewellery from Nirav Modi's home and offices&nbsp;

February 19, 2018

CBI arrests three more PNB executives

February 20, 2018

PNB shares fall for fifth trading session, wiping off $1.9 billion in market capitalisation

Reserve Bank of India asks banks to implement measures to strengthen their oversight of the SWIFT interbank messaging platform

Jeweller Modi’s lawyer denies wrongdoing by the client; Modi writes to PNB saying his companies owe much less than the sums reported

Enforcement Directorate (ED) says investigating more than 100 shell companies allegedly used by Modi and Choksi to route funds

CBI arrests three officials from Modi’s group, two from Gitanjali

February 21, 2018:

CBI arrests PNB general manager Rajesh Jindal, who headed the bank’s Brady House branch in Mumbai between August 2009 and May 2011

Jeweller Modi writes to his employees in India saying they should look for other jobs as he would not be able to pay them salaries after the seizure of his assets

February 22, 2018:

ED seizes nine luxury cars belonging to Modi and his firms; freezes shares and mutual funds worth 78 million rupees held by Modi and 867.2 million rupees held by Choksi

February 23, 2018:

Auditor group Institute of Chartered Accountants of India begins probe into PNB fraud

RBI orders linking of SWIFT system with banks’ core accounting software by April 30, among other measures, Feb. 20 letter to banks shows

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra announces cutting ties with Nirav Modi’s brand

February 24, 2018:

Choksi writes an open letter to employees of Gitanjali Gems protesting innocence and telling them to look for other jobs

ED seizes 21 properties including a farmhouse, a solar power plant and land belonging to Modi worth 5.24 billion rupees

February 27, 2018:

PNB says the amount of fraudulent transactions has gone up by about $204 million to $1.97 billion

Jeweller Modi’s firm Firestar Diamond files for bankruptcy in the United States

February 28, 2018:

CBI arrests former PNB auditor M.K. Sharma, who was responsible for auditing systems and practices of the bank’s Brady House branch

March 1, 2018: PNB appoints BDO India as a forensic auditor for five group companies belonging to Modi

CBI arrests another former PNB internal auditor, Bishnubrata Mishra, who was responsible for audits at the branch between 2011 and 2015

March 3, 2018:

Authorities say gold and diamond bribes given to one PNB staffer named in the fraud&nbsp;

State-run lender Allahabad Bank says its exposure to the fraud is about $367 million

March 4, 2018:

CBI makes four more arrests - two former employees of Modi’s Firestar International, an auditor of Modi’s group and a former director of one of Choksi’s companies

March 6, 2018:

CBI arrests a vice president of Gitanjali group

Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) meets executives from Axis Bank, ICICI Bank over Modi, Choksi exposure

March 8, 2018:

Choksi accuses investigating agencies of gross abuse of due process in the ongoing probe

June 2, 2018

Interpol issues Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi for money laundering

June 25, 2018

ED moves a special court in Mumbai seeking diamond jeweller Nirav Modi's extradition

June 26, 2018

The special &nbsp;Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court in Mumbai issues summons against diamond jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi to appear before the court or be declared fugitives.

June &nbsp;27, 2018

Mehul Choksi moves special court seeking cancellation of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against him

June 28, 2018

India requests a group of countries to deny entry to diamantaire Nirav Modi, Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said

August 3, 2018

The government of India sends a request for the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi to the UK authorities

August 20, 2018

CBI officials request Interpol Manchester to detain Nirav Modi after the latter informs about his presence in London to Indian authorities.

September 6, 2018

Interpol issues a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Mihir R Bhansali, an executive of the fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, in connection with the alleged USD 2 billion PNB money-laundering case

October 11, 2018

The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Surat issues an order declaring fugitive diamantaire and Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Nirav Modi as an absconder in a case filed against him by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for allegedly evading customs duty on import of diamonds and pearls

November 6, 2018

The Enforcement Directorate attaches 11 properties worth over Rs 56 crores of fugitive diamond jeweller Nirav Modi in Dubai in connection with its money-laundering probe in the USD 2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

December 25, 2018

Mehul Choksi says he cannot travel 41 hours to reach India. He, however, says he would be willing to be questioned overa&nbsp;&nbsp;video call

December 27, 2018

British authorities inform India that &nbsp;fugitive Nirav Modi is living in the UK

 
March 8, 2019

Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi is living in a swanky 8-million pound apartment in London's West End and is now involved in a new diamond business, a British daily reports

March 9, 2019

ED says the government of United Kingdom has sent an extradition request of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi to a UK court for further proceeding

March 18, 2019

Westminster Court in London issues arrest warrant against fugitive Nirav Modi after the Indian government's request was forwarded to the court by UK Home Office

March 20, 2019

Nirav Modi arrested in London after Westminster court issued an arrest warrant against the fugitive diamantaire

Police on Tuesday arrested fugitive billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi London's Holborn metro station. Modi is the prime accused in Punjab Nation Bank (PNB) scam.

Police on Tuesday arrested fugitive billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi London's Holborn metro station. Modi is the prime accused in Punjab Nation Bank (PNB) scam. He will be produced in the Westminster court at in a short while, TV reports claimed. Westminster court in London on Monday issued an arrest warrant against the diamond merchant The following is a timeline of how the case has unfolded: January 29, 2018: PNB files police complaint against jewellers Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and others, saying they had colluded with two of its bank staff to defraud the bank of 2.81 billion rupees ($43.16 million) February 5, 2018: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) says it has launched an investigation into the alleged scam. Bank tells stock exchange it is still probing the extent of the fraud February 14, 2018: PNB now discloses the amount involved in the fraud as $1.77 billion, adds other banks overseas advanced money to jewellers based on the fraudulent guarantees issued by its staff February 15, 2018: PNB Chief Executive Sunil Mehta holds a news conference, says working with law enforcement agencies, regulators, other banks CBI says Modi, Choksi left India before PNB filed complaint February 16, 2018: CBI files case against Choksi’s Gitanjali Group and conducts searches at 20 of the jewellery retailers locations PNB CEO tells analysts bank putting in place better checks and balances, hopes to recover within six months February 17, 2018: CBI makes first arrests in the case, two PNB employees and an executive of Nirav Modi’s group detained Enforcement Directorate seizes a cumulative 56.74 billion rupees worth of diamonds, gold and jewellery from Nirav Modi's home and offices February 19, 2018 CBI arrests three more PNB executives February 20, 2018 PNB shares fall for fifth trading session, wiping off $1.9 billion in market capitalisation Reserve Bank of India asks banks to implement measures to strengthen their oversight of the SWIFT interbank messaging platform Jeweller Modi’s lawyer denies wrongdoing by the client; Modi writes to PNB saying his companies owe much less than the sums reported Enforcement Directorate (ED) says investigating more than 100 shell companies allegedly used by Modi and Choksi to route funds CBI arrests three officials from Modi’s group, two from Gitanjali February 21, 2018: CBI arrests PNB general manager Rajesh Jindal, who headed the bank’s Brady House branch in Mumbai between August 2009 and May 2011 Jeweller Modi writes to his employees in India saying they should look for other jobs as he would not be able to pay them salaries after the seizure of his assets February 22, 2018: ED seizes nine luxury cars belonging to Modi and his firms; freezes shares and mutual funds worth 78 million rupees held by Modi and 867.2 million rupees held by Choksi February 23, 2018: Auditor group Institute of Chartered Accountants of India begins probe into PNB fraud RBI orders linking of SWIFT system with banks’ core accounting software by April 30, among other measures, Feb. 20 letter to banks shows Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra announces cutting ties with Nirav Modi’s brand February 24, 2018: Choksi writes an open letter to employees of Gitanjali Gems protesting innocence and telling them to look for other jobs ED seizes 21 properties including a farmhouse, a solar power plant and land belonging to Modi worth 5.24 billion rupees February 27, 2018: PNB says the amount of fraudulent transactions has gone up by about $204 million to $1.97 billion Jeweller Modi’s firm Firestar Diamond files for bankruptcy in the United States February 28, 2018: CBI arrests former PNB auditor M.K. Sharma, who was responsible for auditing systems and practices of the bank’s Brady House branch March 1, 2018: PNB appoints BDO India as a forensic auditor for five group companies belonging to Modi CBI arrests another former PNB internal auditor, Bishnubrata Mishra, who was responsible for audits at the branch between 2011 and 2015 March 3, 2018: Authorities say gold and diamond bribes given to one PNB staffer named in the fraud State-run lender Allahabad Bank says its exposure to the fraud is about $367 million March 4, 2018: CBI makes four more arrests - two former employees of Modi’s Firestar International, an auditor of Modi’s group and a former director of one of Choksi’s companies March 6, 2018: CBI arrests a vice president of Gitanjali group Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) meets executives from Axis Bank, ICICI Bank over Modi, Choksi exposure March 8, 2018: Choksi accuses investigating agencies of gross abuse of due process in the ongoing probe June 2, 2018 Interpol issues Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi for money laundering June 25, 2018 ED moves a special court in Mumbai seeking diamond jeweller Nirav Modi's extradition June 26, 2018 The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court in Mumbai issues summons against diamond jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi to appear before the court or be declared fugitives. June 27, 2018 Mehul Choksi moves special court seeking cancellation of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against him June 28, 2018 India requests a group of countries to deny entry to diamantaire Nirav Modi, Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said August 3, 2018 The government of India sends a request for the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi to the UK authorities August 20, 2018 CBI officials request Interpol Manchester to detain Nirav Modi after the latter informs about his presence in London to Indian authorities. September 6, 2018 Interpol issues a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Mihir R Bhansali, an executive of the fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, in connection with the alleged USD 2 billion PNB money-laundering case October 11, 2018 The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Surat issues an order declaring fugitive diamantaire and Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Nirav Modi as an absconder in a case filed against him by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for allegedly evading customs duty on import of diamonds and pearls November 6, 2018 The Enforcement Directorate attaches 11 properties worth over Rs 56 crores of fugitive diamond jeweller Nirav Modi in Dubai in connection with its money-laundering probe in the USD 2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. December 25, 2018 Mehul Choksi says he cannot travel 41 hours to reach India. He, however, says he would be willing to be questioned overa video call December 27, 2018 British authorities inform India that fugitive Nirav Modi is living in the UK March 8, 2019 Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi is living in a swanky 8-million pound apartment in London's West End and is now involved in a new diamond business, a British daily reports March 9, 2019 ED says the government of United Kingdom has sent an extradition request of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi to a UK court for further proceeding March 18, 2019 Westminster Court in London issues arrest warrant against fugitive Nirav Modi after the Indian government's request was forwarded to the court by UK Home Office March 20, 2019 Nirav Modi arrested in London after Westminster court issued an arrest warrant against the fugitive diamantaire

PNB scam involving Nirav Modi: Timeline and how the events unfolded leading to his arrest 

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PNB scam involving Nirav Modi: Timeline and how the events unfolded leading to his arrest