Nirav Modi case: UK judge says claims of Indian interrogation torture are worrying and only commitment from Indian government will reassure them

TOI correspondent in London: Judges who dismissed fugitive jeweler Nirav Modi’s renewed anti-extradition appeal said their decision “presents a worrying picture of the use of prohibited treatments to extract confessions, which has been described as ‘common and pervasive'”.“We would have been willing to reopen this appeal but for the representations and assurances given by the Government of India,” Justices Stewart-Smith and Jay said in the order.Nirav Modi could be extradited to India within a month after final roll of the dice failed. He was unable to go to the Supreme Court because the high court on Wednesday refused to reopen his extradition appeal. He can contact the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and try to obtain an injunction against eviction under Article 39. Such requests are granted in exceptional circumstances when the applicant faces an imminent risk of irreversible harm.5 St Andrew’s Hill lawyer Ben Keith told TOI: “The timetable for deportation is 28 days from the High Court decision. This may be delayed due to an application to the European Court of Human Rights, or ongoing immigration applications or other logistical difficulties. However, it looks likely that this will be the end of it.”Nirav’s lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald KC, argued that Nirav’s anti-extradition appeal should be reopened after defense intermediary Sanjay Bhandari won the appeal because Nirav would face a real risk of torture by Indian investigative agencies.