UK Former Home Secretary Criticises Delay in Nirav Modi Extradition

Former UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has expressed strong criticism over the continued presence of fugitive Indian businessman Nirav Modi in Britain, despite her signing of his extradition order in 2021. In a podcast interview with The Daily Telegraph, Patel described herself as 'appalled and horrified' that Modi, wanted in India for fraud and money laundering, remains in the United Kingdom.

Patel, now the Conservative Party's shadow foreign secretary, claimed that the delay in extraditing Modi has strained bilateral relations. She alleged that India has refused to accept thousands of illegal Indian migrants from the UK as a direct result of Britain's failure to extradite the jeweller. Authorities in India are 'hugely angry' over the situation, she added.

'If our system were judicious and doing the right thing, rather than tying itself up in process and excuses, he should not be in this country,' Patel said. 'I'm actually pretty appalled and horrified that he's still here, and I have to say, I suspect that really makes the Indian government feel quite demoralised about even working with us.'

Patel served as Home Secretary from 2019 to 2022 under the Conservative government. She stated that the Modi case complicated her efforts to repatriate Indian visa overstayers, as India would 'really push back.' She said, 'I had a hell of a challenge getting them to sign off on receiving failed asylum seekers... and I'm convinced it's because we had this high-profile case.'

Nirav Modi is wanted in India for three sets of criminal proceedings: a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case for alleged money laundering, and a third case involving interference with evidence and witnesses. The fraud is estimated at USD 2 billion.

The 55-year-old jeweller has been held in a London prison since his arrest in March 2019. He has exhausted his legal options in the UK, including appeals on human rights grounds and a secret political asylum claim. A final plea to the European Court of Human Rights was reportedly rejected. Patel described the delays as 'a flagrant abuse of our system' and 'an insult to British taxpayers.'

Modi's extradition was ordered by a UK court in 2021, which established a prima facie case. However, subsequent appeals and legal proceedings have prevented his transfer to India. Patel urged that Modi should face trial in India, stating, 'Modi should be in prison in India and serving his time there.'