The Royal Courts of Justice in London has denied bail to fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi. This was his fourth bail application which has been quashed.

Nirav Modi's previous applications for bail were rejected thrice in the lower court after which he had moved the Royal Court of Justice in London which is the higher court.

Nirav, 48, has been lodged at Wandsworth prison in south-west London since his third attempt at seeking bail was rejected by chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot at the last hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court last month.

This was #NiravModi's fourth bail application at the UK court which was refused. https://t.co/Jxv8rSK8Q0 — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019 ×

Enforcement Directorate had moved an extradition request to the UK for the diamond merchant in March after he was spotted walking in a London street. Nirav Modi had defrauded Punjab and National Bank (PNB) in Mumbai's Brady House branch of Rs 11,400-crore.

The Interpol had earlier issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Nirav last year.

Nirav Modi was arrested by uniformed Scotland Yard officers on an extradition warrant from a Metro Bank branch in central London as he attempted to open a new bank account on March 19.

Previously, he was denied bail at three previous attempts at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, as the judge ruled there was "substantial risk" that he would fail to surrender and deemed the bail security offered as insufficient, news agency PTI reported.

Modi, who has remained behind bars in judicial custody since his arrest in March, had the automatic right to file an application in the higher court and did not require permission to appeal.

(With inputs from agencies)



