Priti Patel: Nirav Modi Should Be In Indian Jail, Extradition Delay Strained Ties

Former UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has made significant revelations regarding the extradition of fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, stating that he belongs in an Indian prison rather than the United Kingdom. Patel, who also serves as the Conservative Party Shadow Foreign Secretary, claimed that the persistent delays in sending Modi back to India caused significant frustration within the Indian government, which in turn affected bilateral cooperation on other critical issues such as migration.

Impact on India-UK Diplomatic Relations

During an interview on The Telegraph's podcast titled 'The Diamond King', Priti Patel explained that India's reluctance to cooperate on the return of illegal migrants and failed asylum seekers was directly linked to the lack of progress in Nirav Modi's extradition. According to Patel, the Indian government felt a deep sense of disappointment over the legal hurdles preventing the fugitive's return. She noted that as long as there was no concrete action on high-profile fugitives like Modi, India was hesitant to agree to agreements regarding the repatriation of its citizens who were in the UK illegally, while the Indian government maintained a firm stance that they wouldn't easily agree to migration issues until their fugitives faced justice.

Criticism of the British Justice System

Reflecting on her tenure as Home Secretary from 2019 to 2022, Patel highlighted how Nirav Modi and another high-profile case allowed India to maintain diplomatic pressure on the UK. She described Nirav Modi's prolonged stay in the UK as a gross abuse of the justice system and an insult to British taxpayers. Patel stated that Modi should be serving his sentence in an Indian jail under a valid extradition process. She was quoted saying, "It's an open abuse of our system, while i mean, that's the only way to describe it. It really is.

The Legal Battle and Pending Cases

The 55 year old Nirav Modi is currently held at London's Pentonville Prison in connection with the approximately 2 billion dollar Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case. Indian authorities are seeking him in three distinct cases. The first is the alleged PNB fraud case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The second is the money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The third case involves allegations of tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses during the CBI investigation.

Current Status of Extradition

Although British courts ruled in favor of his extradition after finding sufficient evidence, the process has been delayed by various legal maneuvers, while despite the extradition order being signed in April 2021, the process was prolonged due to legal appeals based on human rights arguments and a confidential asylum application. Following reports that his asylum claim was rejected, Modi made another attempt to reopen his extradition case, which was dismissed by the High Court of England in March this year. Also, his final appeal at the European Court of Human Rights in France has also been unsuccessful. Consequently, his extradition to India is now considered the next legal step in this long-standing judicial process.