Ina major boost to the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) probe into the Rs13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, UK Home Secretary PritiPatel has approved the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, sources saidon Friday.
"TheUK Home Secretary has approved the extradition request of Nirav Modi”, said, aCBI source related to the probe.
Askedhow long will it take for the CBI will bring back the businessman, who has beenlodged in a prison in London since his arrest in March 2019, the source saidthat if Nirav Modi files an appeal, then it may take some time.
OnFebruary 25 this year, a UK court allowed extradition of Nirav Modi in the Rs13,500 crore PNB scam case.
TheDistrict Judge at the Westminster Magistrates' Court, Samuel Goozee, acceptedthe prima facie evidence against Nirav Modi for money laundering, saying:"Many of these are a matter for trial in India. I am satisfied again thatthere is evidence that he could be convicted," according to reports.
TheCBI had then dubbed the UK court judgement as a "significant"achievement in its efforts to curb corruption.
TheCBI in a statement had said that the UK court ruling is "a reminder thatfugitives, who have eluded the process of law after commission of large valuefrauds, cannot consider themselves above the process merely because they havechanged jurisdictions".
NiravModi was arrested on an extradition warrant on March 19, 2019 on charges ofmoney laundering, conspiring to destroy evidence and intimidating witnesses.
Heis facing probe by the CBI for a large-scale fraud upon PNB throughfraudulently obtaining LoUs or loan agreements. He is also being probed by theEnforcement Directorate (ED) in a case relating to the laundering of theproceeds of that fraud.
Meanwhile,he also faces two additional charges of "causing disappearance ofevidence" and "intimidating witnesses" or "criminalintimidation to cause death", which were added on to the CBI case.
TheED has attached several assets of Nirav Modi running into crores of rupees inconnection with the case.
NiravModi's uncle, Mehul Choksi of Geetanjali group, who is believed believed to bein Antigua, is also being probed in connection with the case.