Nirav Modi’s request to reopen proceedings against his extradition order by British courts was rejected by the High Court, King’s Bench Division in London on Wednesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation said.
The matter was strongly argued by counsel for the Crown Prosecution Service, ably assisted by a specialist CBI team, including investigating officers who traveled to London for the hearing. The reopening application was filed on the basis of the Bhandari judgment; however, with sustained and coordinated efforts by the CBI, the problem was successfully overcome, the investigating agency said in a statement.
The high court, while passing the judgment, observed that the reopened petition and the circumstances surrounding it were not exceptional to merit reopening, the investigating agency said in a statement.
The CBI is seeking Nirav Modi’s extradition in connection with the PNB fraud involving significant financial misconduct with the public sector bank, with proceedings ongoing since 2018. Following his arrest in the UK in 2019, the courts approved his extradition and dismissed earlier appeals, finding no legal impediments and accepting assurances regarding his treatment in India. Although a temporary legal hurdle delayed the trial, it was canceled in August 2025, the CBI said.
According to the CBI, Nirav Modi asked to reopen his appeal, citing concerns about possible ill-treatment (the basis of the Bhandari judgment) and questioned whether the safeguards provided by the Indian authorities were sufficient to protect his rights. As of 19 March 2019, he has been in prison in the United Kingdom.
Nirav Modi is a fugitive economic offender wanted in India for trial in a CBI bank fraud case involving the Punjab National Bank fraud ₹6498.20 crore, the CBI said.
The CBI added that the Crown Prosecution Service effectively supported a specialist CBI team that prepared responses in the proceedings and traveled to London specifically for the hearing. The positive result highlights the consistent efforts and strong commitment of the Government of India in achieving this success, the CBI said.
