Multiple legal appeals and an asylum claim have delayed the fugitive businessman’s extradition
Former UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has criticised Britain’s prolonged delay in extraditing fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi to India, saying she is “appalled and horrified” that he remains in the United Kingdom despite signing his extradition order in 2021.
Speaking on The Daily Telegraph‘s podcast series The Diamond King, Patel said India’s frustration over the stalled extradition has significantly affected bilateral cooperation, particularly on the return of illegal migrants and failed asylum seekers.
Patel, now the Conservative Party’s shadow foreign secretary, claimed the Indian government is “hugely angry” over London’s inability to send back the businessman, who is wanted in India in connection with the estimated $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and related money laundering cases.
“If our system were judicious and doing the right thing, rather than tying itself up in process and excuses, he should not be in this country,” Patel said, adding that she believes the continued delay has undermined India’s confidence in working with the UK.
Reflecting on her tenure as Home Secretary between 2019 and 2022, Patel said the Nirav Modi case complicated negotiations with India over accepting visa overstayers and failed asylum seekers.
“I had a hell of a challenge getting them to sign off on receiving failed asylum seekers,” she said, claiming New Delhi used the unresolved extradition of high-profile fugitives as leverage during discussions.
Patel argued that Nirav Modi should already be in India, facing trial under the country’s legal system.
“He should be in prison in India, having gone through the legal process. That’s exactly what UK extradition treaties are designed for,” she said, describing the prolonged legal battle as “a flagrant abuse” of Britain’s judicial system.
Nirav Modi was arrested by Scotland Yard in London in March 2019 after being traced to a luxury apartment. He is wanted in India in three separate criminal proceedings, including the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) case related to the Punjab National Bank fraud, the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering investigation, and allegations of tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses.
The 55-year-old businessman remains lodged at Pentonville Prison in London. Although British courts approved his extradition and Patel signed the order in 2021, the process has been delayed by multiple appeals on human rights grounds and a confidential asylum application.
After reportedly losing his asylum claim, Nirav Modi made another attempt to reopen his extradition case earlier this year. However, the High Court in England rejected the plea in March, bringing his extradition to India a step closer.
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