Fugitive Diamond Merchant Nirav Modi Transferred to Private Prison Amidst Security Concerns and Ongoing Legal Battle

Nirav Modi, the fugitive diamond merchant wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering, has been transferred from one of the largest and most overcrowded prisons in the UK to a privately-run facility in London. The transfer was revealed on Thursday, just as he was due to appear at a magistrates' court hearing regarding legal costs amounting to GBP 150,247.00 ordered by the High Court in London. However, the hearing had to be adjourned to November as Nirav could not be located in time for his videolink appearance.

The move of Nirav Modi to HMP Thameside from HMP Wandsworth as an internal transfer took place without the court's knowledge. This revelation comes after a recent high-profile security breach at Wandsworth prison, where a terrorist suspect escaped, prompting the relocation of 40 inmates out of an abundance of caution. This incident raised concerns about understaffing and overcrowding at the prison, where Nirav had been detained since his arrest on an extradition warrant in March 2019. It appears that Nirav was among the group of 40 inmates moved and is now held at Thameside prison in south-east London, which itself reportedly faces issues of overcrowding.

However, the security level remains unchanged, as both prisons are classified as Category B men's prisons. HMP Thameside is London's only private prison, capable of holding around 1,232 convicted and on-remand male prisoners. Operated by Serco, it was completed in March 2012. In 2021, Nirav lost his legal battle against extradition to India in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan scam case, which involved an estimated $2 billion. Despite this, his case is still subject to further litigation, as indicated by UK Home Office sources. In March of this year, magistrates at Barkingside Magistrates' Court allowed him to pay GBP 10,000 a month using borrowed funds due to financial hardships caused by his frozen assets in India.

The recent hearing was meant to review this previous order. The Royal Courts of Justice in London rejected Nirav's application to appeal to the Supreme Court on suicide risk grounds and to certify a point of law, effectively concluding his extradition appeal options in the UK courts. However, the case's potential for further litigation suggests the possibility of a parallel confidential political asylum appeals process, according to UK Home Office sources. Nirav was arrested in March 2019 based on charges brought by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in India.

The charges against him include fraud on the PNB, resulting in losses of over GBP 700 million, as well as money laundering and alleged interference with evidence and witnesses in the CBI proceedings. The extradition order was issued by then UK Home Secretary Priti Patel based on a ruling by Judge Sam Goozee of Westminster Magistrates' Court in April 2021. Despite these developments, the legal proceedings against Nirav are not yet concluded and may still face further litigation in the future.