“Too Big to Bail”: UK Court Rejects Nirav Modi’s 10th Bail Plea, Cites Risk of Absconding and Prima Facie Case

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London: In a significant setback to fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, the London High Court on Wednesday rejected his tenth bail plea, citing strong evidence and a high risk of absconding. Justice Michael Fordham of the Royal Courts of Justice reiterated the UK judiciary’s position, stating, “UK courts have twice concluded that there is an evidenced prima facie case against the applicant.”

Nirav Modi, 54, is the prime accused in India’s largest banking fraud, amounting to over Rs 13,800 crore involving the Punjab National Bank (PNB). He has been lodged in a UK prison since March 2019 after being arrested in London on India’s extradition request.

In his detailed order, Justice Fordham underlined the court’s rationale for denying bail yet again: “I repeat, after careful evaluation, UK courts have twice concluded that there is an evidenced prima facie case against the applicant.”

The judge also noted that Modi posed a serious flight risk and was allegedly involved in witness tampering and destruction of evidence. “Part of what is alleged is that he was criminally responsible for actions in which witnesses were interfered with and evidence was destroyed,” the court said. This includes the destruction of a mobile phone and a computer server in Dubai in 2018—actions allegedly taken while Modi was already in the UK.

This was the tenth time Modi had applied for bail since his detention. The court observed that the allegations against him show “seriousness and substance” and point to his role as the “principal perpetrator” in the fraud. According to the court’s findings, Modi, in collusion with others, fraudulently induced PNB to issue documents that facilitated the withdrawal of large sums from overseas banks. The total amount linked to the fraud is an estimated $1,015.35 million USD.

The bail application was firmly opposed by Indian authorities, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had dispatched a team of investigators and legal officers to London. The CBI later issued a press release confirming the court’s decision and acknowledging the assistance of the Crown Prosecution Service.

“Fresh Bail Petition filed by Nirav Deepak Modi was rejected by the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, London,” the CBI said. “The bail arguments were strongly opposed by the Crown Prosecution Service advocate who was ably assisted by a strong CBI team… Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could successfully defend the arguments which resulted in rejection of the bail.”

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