NEW DELHI: Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi will be back in a London courtroom on November 23, as judges hear his petition to reopen the extradition trial on the grounds that he could face interrogation if repatriated to India.Nirav Modi argued before the Westminster Court that questioning by Indian agencies may amount to torture if he is sent back. Officials said Indian agencies are preparing to counter the claim with assurances that he would only face trial and not fresh interrogation.“We have already filed the chargesheets in the case. His questioning is not needed as of now. Our investigation is almost complete. He is needed to face the trial. In case the court in the United Kingdom asks us, we may reiterate our assurance that he will not be subjected to any interrogation if extradited to India. We have given such assurance in the past as well,” an official said, as quoted by PTI.All agencies involved, including the CBI and Enforcement Directorate, are aligned that Nirav Modi’s questioning is not required. They have assured UK authorities that he would face trial strictly under Indian law, without new charges being added. India has also conveyed that Modi would be lodged in barrack 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, which has medical facilities and no risk of overcrowding, violence or mistreatment.The 54-year-old jeweller, once celebrated globally for his ‘Nirav’ brand, has been fighting extradition since his arrest on an extradition warrant in London on March 19, 2019. His extradition was cleared by then UK home secretary Priti Patel in April 2021. Since then, Modi has remained in a London prison, with several bail applications rejected on grounds of being a substantial flight risk.The fugitive businessman has already exhausted his legal appeals up to the Supreme Court in the UK. He now faces three separate proceedings in India: a CBI case linked to the Rs 6,498 crore Punjab National Bank fraud, an Enforcement Directorate case of alleged laundering of the fraud’s proceeds, and another involving interference with evidence and witnesses.
