Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, wanted in India for allegedly defrauding banks, has filed a fresh plea in a UK court seeking to block his extradition to India. Modi's legal team filed an application before the Westminster court in the UK last month, which the court has now accepted, to reopen the appeal against his extradition to India. A notice has been served to the Indian government.

Nirav Modi is accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) of ₹6,498 crore, part of a larger scam of ₹13,578 crore that also involves his uncle, Mehul Choksi. He has been held in Wandsworth Prison near London since March 2019 after being arrested by Scotland Yard following India's extradition request. In February 2021, the Westminster magistrates' court ordered his extradition to India, a decision upheld by the UK High Court in November 2022. The High Court also denied his plea to appeal to the UK Supreme Court, seemingly exhausting his legal options at the time.

In his latest attempt to avoid extradition, Nirav Modi is arguing that if he is sent back to India, he faces the risk of interrogation by multiple agencies, poor jail facilities, and possible torture. He is citing certain testimonies to support his claims.

The Indian government is preparing a detailed response to counter Modi's claims, which will be sent through diplomatic channels. They plan to assure the UK court that if extradited, Modi will face trial strictly in accordance with Indian law and will not be subjected to interrogation by any agency outside legal procedures. The government will urge the court to dismiss Modi's application, emphasizing that the extradition order was already finalized in 2022.

Indian officials believe the extradition process had been progressing smoothly, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK in July, when both countries signed a free trade agreement. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were optimistic about an imminent extradition. A visit by the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to Tihar Jail in Delhi in July provided a positive review of prison conditions.

Nirav Modi's repeated attempts to secure bail have been unsuccessful. The UK High Court has previously rejected his bail pleas, citing "substantial grounds" to believe that he would fail to surrender if released. This marks the tenth time Modi has applied for bail since his detention.