CBI-ED team to leave for London: Nirav Modi extradition

New Delhi, Mar 27 A joint CBI-ED group will before long leave for London to local authorities in the removal instance of criminal diamantaire Nirav Modi whose bail plea will desire hearing under the steady gaze of a court there on Friday, authorities said.

A Joint Director-level officer each from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been deputed to leave for London Wednesday with important documents, they said.

The ED officer will convey the most recent charge sheet filed by the agency against Modi's wife Ami and the recent attachments made by it in the case.

The Indian officials will meet various officers of that nation, including those from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and brief them about the charges and fresh evidence against Modi, his family and others in connection with the case.

The 48-year old diamantaire is accused of swindling more than 2 billion USD from state-run Punjab National Bank in collusion with his uncle Mehul Choksi.

He was spotted living in an upscale region in London by the UK-based paper The Telegraph.

Nirav Modi was later arrested on the basis of the extradition request of India and a Red Corner see issued against him on the request of the CBI a year ago.

He was produced before the Westminster Magistrates' Court last week, wherein he contested his extradition to India.

District Judge Marie Mallon denied bail to Modi and remanded him in custody till March 29, saying there was substantial grounds to trust that he would fail to surrender if granted bail.

UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid had confirmed India's extradition demand for the criminal diamantaire earlier this month, setting off the legitimate procedure kick-began with the issuance of a warrant.

The news of the certification of India's request came after Modi was found to a three-bedroom flat in the Centre Point tower block of luxury apartments in West End of London.

He is believed to have arrived in London a year ago and had the capacity to travel in and out of Britain at least four times since his passport was cancelled by the Indian authorities in February 2018.

Modi was also reportedly living in the core of the city over his jewellery boutique Nirav Modi on Old Bond Street, which has since shut down.

He is now believed to be running a new business which describes itself on the UK's Companies House register as a discount merchant and retailer of watches and jewellery in specialised stores.