- By Priyanka Koul
- Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:25 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a significant development in the high-profile extradition case of fugitive economic offender, diamond merchant, Nirav Modi could be brought back to India soon..
According to CNN-News18, citing sources, top government officials have indicated that the extradition proceedings have reached an advanced phase. Teams from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are already in London to coordinate the final steps, signalling that preparations for his return are actively underway.
Most of the key legal challenges in the United Kingdom have been exhausted, effectively clearing the way for Modi’s extradition. Officials view the presence of CBI teams in London as a sign that the process has moved beyond courtroom battles and into the execution phase.
Nirav Modi, who is accused in the multi-billion-dollar fraud involving Punjab National Bank, has been a central figure in India’s efforts to bring back economic offenders who fled the country.
If successful, his extradition would mark a significant breakthrough for the government, highlighting what officials describe as a stronger record in tracking and returning fugitives through sustained legal and diplomatic channels. Upon his return, Modi is expected to face fast-tracked trial proceedings linked to the fraud case.
The development follows a March ruling by a London court, which dismissed Modi’s plea to reopen extradition proceedings, bringing him a step closer to being sent back to India in connection with the alleged Rs 6,498-crore PNB fraud case.
Modi was arrested in London on March 19, 2019. India had filed its first extradition request on July 27, 2018, even before his arrest, covering cases registered by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), including fraud and money laundering charges. A second request was submitted on February 11, 2020, related to allegations of tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses in the CBI probe.