An arrest warrant has been issued for fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi, by the Westminster Magistrates Court, sources have said. The sources said the warrant had been issued last week, and that India had been made aware of this on Monday.
However, there is currently no indication of when precisely an arrest could be made.
Britain’s Metropolitan Police have repeatedly declined to comment on the case, saying that no comment on individual cases will be made until and if an arrest had been made.
The warrant had been widely expected after Home Secretary Sajid Javid referred India’s extradition request for Modi, wanted in connection with the ₹13,000 crore Punjab National bank fraud case, to Westminster Magistrates Court, for approval by a judge earlier this month.
Once an arrest is made, Nirav Modi would face a judicial process similar to Vijay Mallya, who is currently appealing the extradition order against him, signed by Mr. Javid in February.
Modi was tracked down and filmed by reporters of the Daily Telegraph newspaper earlier this month, near a luxury apartment complex by Oxford Street where he is living.
The diamond trader had declined to answer questions about his status in the U.K. and on reports that he had applied for asylum.
The paper had also reported that he had been given a National Insurance number by Britain’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which is used by the British government for putting together a person’s work, social security and tax details, and issued to people with the ability to work in the country.
In June last year, Interpol issued a Red Notice against Modi and two others on the Enforcement Directorate’s request.
