University of the west of scotland, University in Paisley, Scotland

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi's five-day extradition trial over the nearly USD2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case is set to begin in London's Westminster Magistrates' Court today.The London High Court rejected Nirav Modi's bail plea in Punjab National Bank (PNB) bank fraud case for the fifth time in early March.Modi, the prime accused in the PNB fraud case, is currently lodged at Wandsworth prison in south-west London and is wanted for his alleged role in the Rs 13,570 crore loss caused to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) along with his uncle, Mehul Choksi.Modi, 48, was arrested in March last year by Scotland Yard in connection with the case.Modi was remanded in custody till February 27, 2020, after he appeared before a UK court on Thursday via video link from his London prison.The latest bail hearing followed further assurances by Modi, including an increase in the amount of security he had offered as a guarantee as well as stricter bail conditions.On his last bail application, Modi offered USD 4 million as a security guarantee in return for bail, an offer that was rejected by judges who ruled that there was a real risk that Modi would flee the UK to a country which has no extradition treaty with India.At the same hearing, the judge ruled that there was "strong evidence" that Modi had engaged in "witness intimidation" and destroying evidence.Given the seriousness of such allegations, it was all but certain that the latest bail application would be rejected.Modi's lawyers had contended that their client was being held in difficult conditions at Wandsworth prison and had also claimed that his mental health was deteriorating as a result of his incarceration.However, ruling at the High Court today, Justice Ian Dove said there was a "clear need for this application to be refused in the present circumstances."It comes just days after the second sale of assets belonging to Modi valued at millions of dollars.The items include a luxury Rolls Royce car, a Patek Philippe watch and a painting by the renowned Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil valued at USD 2.5 million but expected to fetch considerably more.Meanwhile, Nirav's brother Neeshal Modi, who is also one of the co-conspirators in the PNB scam, has written to Enforcement Directorate, distancing himself from his brother's actions and said that he had no knowledge of it.( With inputs from ANI )

University Of The West Of ScotlandFOLLOW

University of the west of scotland, Latest News

Mumbai, July 15 Actress Vaani Kapoor has started shooting for her upcoming film "Bell Bottom", and she says ... ...

Los Angeles, June 27 Actor James McAvoy says there was a pre-shoot ritual that he used to follow, ... ...

Glasgow, June 27 A man was shot dead by police after a stabbing attack at a hotel in ... ...

London, June 23 Midfielder Scott McTominay has signed a new contract with Manchester United which will keep him ... ...

Scotland's one-off T20I against Australia, which was scheduled to be held in Edinburgh on July 29, has been cancelled ... ...

The Edinburgh Castle, one of Scotland's biggest tourist attractions, has launched a virtual tour of its secret passages via ... ...

The Delhi High Court has granted interim bail to a man facing extradition proceedings to Scotland to face trial ... ...

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi's five-day extradition trial over the nearly USD2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case is set to begin in London's Westminster Magistrates' Court today. ...