Fugitive billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi was denied bail in a London court on Friday, following his arrest last week by British authorities on charges over his alleged involvement in the $2 billion (around ?13,900 crore today) PNB fraud.
The 48-year-old diamond magnate, who denies the charges, faces the possibility of extradition to India where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is under pressure to take a firm stance on the case ahead of national elections in April-May.
“I find that there are substantial grounds to fear failure to surrender," magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said in a Westminster court, adding that the fact Nirav Modi had in 2017 applied for a visa to the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu exacerbated those concerns.
A witness has alleged that Nirav Modi threatened to kill him and also offered around ?20 lakh ($28,918.45) as a bribe not to testify, Toby Cadman, a lawyer representing the Indian government, told the court.
Nirav Modi will next appear before the court via a video link on 26 April.
Earlier, the Crown Prosecution Service, arguing on behalf of Indian authorities, said Nirav Modi should not be granted bail because he posed a significant flight risk and had even issued death threats to witnesses related to his fraud and money laundering case.
“Given the nature and seriousness of charges and the resources available to him…there will be an overwhelming desire to flee the jurisdiction and interfere with the administration of justice," said Cadman.
Courtesy/By: Sakshi Shukla
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31 Mar 2019
