Fiji Sun

Amid buzz on UK asylum plea, India seeks Nirav Modi’s extraditio­n

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The UK has confirmed the presence of Nirav Modi within its jurisdicti­on, leading India to push for his extraditio­n amid fears that the diamond trader wanted for the PNB bank fraud might seek political asylum here.

India’s Junior Minister for Home, Kiren Rijiju, is learnt to have asked for “smooth and early” extraditio­n of the alleged fraudster during his meeting on Monday with Baroness Williams, UK minister of state for countering terrorism.

Sources in Delhi said the UK delegation confirmed the presence of Nirav Modi, whose whereabout­s have been the subject of conflictin­g speculatio­n, as well as that Williams offered UK’s - in India’s efforts to extradite the disgraced diamond trader as well as other fugitives like liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya who are ensconced in UK. “I had a very useful meeting with UK Minister Baroness Williams. We discussed about India-UK joint efforts to deal with terrorism and extremism.

“We also agreed to co-operate in the matters of extraditio­n and sharing of informatio­n,” Rijiju told reporters after the hour-long meeting.

India’s attempt to get hold of the fugitive diamond trader, who is at the centre of Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank fraud, came amid unconfirme­d reports that he might seek political asylum in UK.

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