U.K. High Court grants Nirav Modi permission to appeal on mental health and human rights grounds

Justice Martin Chamberlain delivered his verdict to conclude that the arguments presented by Nirav Modi’s legal team concerning his “severe depression” and “high risk of suicide” were arguable at a substantial hearing.

A High Court judge in London on August 9, granted fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi permission to appeal against a magistrates’ court order in favour of extradition to India to face charges of fraud and money laundering before the Indian courts on mental health and human rights grounds. Justice Martin Chamberlain delivered his verdict remotely under COVID-19 rules to conclude that the arguments presented by the 50-year-old diamond merchant’s legal team concerning his “severe depression” and “high risk of suicide” were arguable at a substantial hearing. He also noted that the adequacy of the measures capable of preventing “successful suicide attempts” at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where Nirav Modi is to be detained upon extradition, also fall within the arguable ambit.