London | December 17, 2025
The UK High Court has postponed the hearing on fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi’s appeal to reopen his extradition case to March 2026, granting more time after assurances were submitted by Indian authorities regarding his interim custody arrangements in Mumbai.
The decision was delivered at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where a bench comprising Justice Jeremy Stuart-Smith and Justice Robert Jay agreed to defer proceedings following representations made on behalf of the Government of India.
India Provides Custody Assurances
During the hearing, lawyers representing Indian investigative agencies provided additional assurances related to Nirav Modi’s conditions of detention in Mumbai should he be extradited. The judges acknowledged these submissions and expressed sympathy toward the Indian side’s position while granting the adjournment.
Nirav Modi, a fugitive businessman accused in the multi-billion-dollar Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, has been lodged in a UK prison since his arrest in London in 2019. India has been seeking his extradition on charges of fraud, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy.
Extradition Battle Continues
Modi has exhausted most of his legal remedies against extradition in the UK but has repeatedly sought to delay the process through appeals citing prison conditions and human rights concerns. Indian authorities have consistently denied these claims and maintained that adequate arrangements are in place to ensure his safety and well-being.
The March 2026 hearing is expected to be a critical stage in the long-running extradition battle, which has seen multiple legal hurdles over the past several years.
