Justice Katju s expert opinion is less than objective: UK Court on Nirav Modi s Extradition
The UK Westminster Court said that Justice Katju had deposed before it as an expert witness for Nirav Modi, opposing the Government of India’s plea for extradition on the ground that he was unlikely to receive a “free and fair trial in India”.
| 27 Feb 2021 2:27 AM GMT
LONDON: Even as the UK s West Minister s Magistrate Court on Thursday cleared the decks for the extradition of fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi in connection with the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, District Judge Samuel Gooze came down heavily on former Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju, saying Gooze attached little weight to Katju s expert opinion as it was less than objective and reliable .
The UK Westminster Court ruling that Nirav Modi be extradited to India in the $2-billion Punjab National Bank fraud case — that almost brought the bank down — and subsequent money-launderi
The Court has recorded that the Crown Prosecution Service representing the Indian government challenged Justice Katju about statements he had made to the Indian media the day before giving his evidence in these extradition proceedings.
“He (Katju) agreed he made statements to the media despite the extradition proceedings being sub judice. He was challenged about the appropriateness of giving press briefings, and expressing his concerns as a high-profile figure in India was simply making matters worse and undermining the rule of law, a self-fulfilling prophecy”.
Finding no force in Katju’s claims, the UK Judge has recorded “Despite having been a former Supreme Court judge in India until his retirement in 2011 his evidence was in my assessment less than objective and reliable. His evidence in Court appeared tinged with resentment towards former senior judicial colleagues. It had hallmarks of an outspoken critic with his own personal agenda. I found his evidence and behaviour
UK court extends diamantiare Nirav Modi s remand till Jan 7
UK court extends diamantiare Nirav Modi s remand till Jan 7
The final extradition hearing of fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi will take place on January 7-8 before a UK court
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Nirav Modi (Photo: Reuters)
The final extradition hearing of fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi will take place on January 7-8 before a UK court, UK’s Westminster Court said.
The 49-year-old businessman appeared via videolink for a routine 28-day remand hearing on Tuesday before the Westminster Magistrates Court.
Nirav Modi is the prime accused in the Rs 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank scam case and has been absconding since the fraud came to light.