Nirav Modi’s last hope also shattered. European Court rejected the application, now the way is clear to bring him to India.

News India Live, Digital Desk: A very bad news has come from London for fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi. Nirav Modi, the main accused in the PNB (Punjab National Bank) scam, had approached the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to save himself from being extradited to India, but he has got a big setback from there. The court has rejected Nirav’s appeal under ‘Rule 39’. After this decision, almost all the avenues of legal escape for Nirav Modi have been closed, due to which the possibility of him coming to India has now become stronger than before.

What is ‘Rule 39’ and why did Nirav appeal?

Nirav Modi’s lawyers had argued in the European Court that if he is sent to India, he may face inhuman treatment due to the conditions of the jails there and his mental health. Under ‘Rule 39’, the court can stay any extradition when there is a serious threat to the life of the person. However, Indian investigative agencies presented strong evidence in the court that Indian prisons are as per international standards and Nirav Modi will be provided complete security and medical facilities there. The court accepted India’s arguments as correct and termed Nirav’s petition as baseless.

14,000 crore scam and 6 years long wait

Nirav Modi fled the country in 2018 after the PNB scam of about Rs 14 thousand crore was exposed. Since then he has been lodged in Wandsworth Prison in London and is continuously appealing against his defeat in the higher courts. Indian investigative agencies—CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED)—have been trying to bring Nirav to India for the last several years. Experts believe that after this latest stand of the European Court, the British Home Ministry can now start the final process of sending Nirav Modi to India.

The law is tightening its grip on fugitives

This twist in the Nirav Modi case is not only a major diplomatic victory for the Indian government, but it also sends a strong message to other fugitives like Vijay Mallya. In the recent past, India has put pressure on international forums for the return of fugitive criminals. If Nirav Modi comes to India, it will set an example against those who commit fraud with the country’s banking system. Now everyone’s eyes are on which special plane and how quickly Nirav will be brought to Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail.