Disgraced diamond mogul Nirav Modi has won his case to appeal his extradition from the UK to India to face charges of defrauding a major state-owned billion-dollar bank, a move which his lawyers said would harm his sanity.
An appeal considers the consequences on Modi's state of mind to be "reasonable," Judge Martin Chamberlain ruled on Monday. The move is a blow to the Indian government as it seeks to indict the highly profitable businessman at his home, where Modi's lawyers have argued he would face an unfair trial. London judges regularly investigate the impact on mental health during extradition. Lawyers for Julian Assange have successfully argued that he could not be sent to the United States for fear that he might risk suicide, according to a judgment in January.
Modi's extradition is the highest case since flamboyant businessman Vijay Mallya lost his appeal against his move to India. If India is successful in convincing Modi to face the charges, it will be seen as a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose handling of the coronavirus pandemic has become omnipresent.
Modi is wanted by an Indian court for allegedly defrauding the First National Bank of Punjab for approximately $ 2 billion. Modi's lawyers argued last month that sending him to India would exacerbate his suicidal feelings and expose him to terrible conditions in a "Covidrich prison" in Mumbai. A psychiatrist told the court that Modi was at "significant" risk of suicide, but not immediately.
An Indian foreign affairs spokesperson said he did not want to immediately comment on the decision. He was once the jeweller to movie stars like Kate Winslet, but his empire collapsed when allegations surfaced that he cheated to obtain guarantees from a loan company. The funds are then used to borrow money from abroad.