No ‘Exceptional Grounds’: UK Court Rejects Nirav Modi’s Appeal

Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, who has been lodged in a UK prison since 2019, has moved a step closer to extradition to India. The High Court of Justice (King’s Bench Division, London) has dismissed his review petition challenging the extradition order. The court observed that no “exceptional circumstances” existed to justify reopening the case.

The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service and a CBI team presented strong arguments during the hearing.

The King’s Bench Division rejected his plea seeking a review of the extradition order. The CBI’s special team also played a crucial role, with investigating officers travelling to London specifically for the hearing.

In his petition, Nirav Modi argued that he could face ill-treatment if returned to India and raised concerns over the assurances given by Indian authorities.

However, the court did not accept these arguments. Notably, a temporary legal hurdle in the process was also cleared in August 2025.

Modi has remained in a UK prison since March, 2019. This ruling has further cleared the path for his extradition to India and marks a significant success for the continued efforts of the Indian government and the CBI.

The CBI has been trying to bring Neerav Modi back to India since 2018. He is accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank of around Rs 6,498 crore.

He was arrested in the UK in 2019 and has been in custody in a British prison since then.

British courts had already approved his extradition, and multiple petitions filed by him have been dismissed.

The Nirav Modi case is considered one of the biggest financial scams in India. A diamond merchant by profession, he is accused of orchestrating a fraud worth nearly Rs 13,000 crore at Punjab National Bank.

The scam came to light in 2018, involving the fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) in collusion with certain bank officials to secure overseas credit. These transactions were not recorded in the bank’s official systems, allowing the fraud to continue undetected for years. Before the scam surfaced, Modi fled India and was later traced to the UK.

The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate registered cases against him and initiated proceedings to attach his assets. ​