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Born in India · Nationality Indian — Business / finance / tech

Nirav Modi

Business and billionaires

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “Alleged PNB fraud and money laundering: Case found sufficient for British extradition” and “Second extradition request: Allegations of interference with evidence and witnesses”.

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Profile No. 2234 · Updated on 12 October 2026

8Documented controversies
9Sources
0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 4 documented stages

Alleged PNB fraud and money laundering: Case found sufficient for British extradition

Formally charged
01

2018–2026

Alleged PNB fraud and money laundering: Case found sufficient for British extradition

Formally charged

Indian authorities are prosecuting Nirav Modi for alleged fraud against Punjab National Bank, estimated in the British proceedings at more than 700 million pounds, as well as laundering the alleged proceeds. British courts found that the case met the requirements for extradition. However, the 2026 British commercial judgment expressly notes that Modi has not been criminally convicted in India or England.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    England and Wales High Court via BAILIIModi v Government of India [2026] EWHC 716 (Admin)Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    England and Wales High Court via BAILIIBank of India v Firestar Diamond FZE & Ors [2026] EWHC 1565 (Comm)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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02

2020–2026

Second extradition request: Allegations of interference with evidence and witnesses

Formally charged

A second Indian extradition request, dated February 2020, concerns Nirav Modi in separate proceedings involving alleged interference with evidence and witnesses in the CBI case. The 2026 British High Court expressly acknowledges the existence of this third set of proceedings.

State of the evidence
Allegations
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    England and Wales High Court via BAILIIModi v Government of India [2026] EWHC 716 (Admin)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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03

2021–2026-03-25

Extradition: March 2026 refusal to reopen appeal over alleged risk of torture or ill-treatment

Formally charged

Following the 2021 extradition order and the failure of his appeal in 2022, Nirav Modi sought in 2026 to reopen his appeal on new grounds concerning the risk of interrogation, torture or ill-treatment in India. On 25 March 2026, the High Court refused to reopen the appeal, finding the Indian assurances sufficient and the circumstances not exceptional.

Attribution
Protagonist is the complainant

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    England and Wales High Court via BAILIIModi v Government of India [2026] EWHC 716 (Admin)Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    SCC TimesUK HC refuses to re-open Nirav Modi's extradition casePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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06

2019–2020

Declaration as Fugitive Economic Offender and confiscation of assets

Formally charged

On 5 December 2019, a special court in Mumbai declared Nirav Modi a 'Fugitive Economic Offender'. In 2020, the court ordered confiscation of assets, and the Enforcement Directorate announced that it had confiscated property worth approximately 329.66 crore rupees pursuant to that decision.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The Indian ExpressPNB scam: Court declares Nirav Modi fugitive economic offenderPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Indian ExpressPNB scam: ED confiscates assets worth Rs 329 crore from Nirav Modi under fugitive lawPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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04

2018–2026-06-23

Bank of India: Civil judgment on personal guarantee exceeding $11.5 million including interest

Civil / administrative proceedings

On 23 June 2026, the English High Court held Nirav Modi personally liable to Bank of India under a guarantee for a loan to Firestar Diamond FZE. The principal was 4 105 189.34 dollars, with interest bringing the total exposure to more than 11.5 million dollars according to reports.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Personally implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    England and Wales High Court via BAILIIBank of India v Firestar Diamond FZE & Ors [2026] EWHC 1565 (Comm)Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    LiveLawLondon Court Orders Nirav Modi To Pay Bank Of India Over USD 11.5 MillionPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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05

2018–2020

Firestar US bankruptcies: Examiner's report describing controlled companies and 'round-tripping'

Civil / administrative proceedings

Three US companies promoted by Nirav Modi sought Chapter 11 protection. In those proceedings, a court-appointed examiner described a system of apparently independent companies that were in fact linked to or controlled by Modi and engaged in diamond 'round-tripping'. The court recognised PNB's rights to the proceeds of certain sales and authorised discovery measures.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Press Information Bureau / Ministry of Corporate AffairsPNB gets first recovery in Nirav Modi fraud from US bankruptcy proceedingsOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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07

2014–2018

DRI 2015: False customs declarations and alleged diversion of diamonds, 48-crore settlement followed by renewed prosecution

Civil / administrative proceedings

An investigation by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence into Nirav Modi's units in Surat alleged the diversion of duty-free imported diamonds and pearls to the domestic market and overvaluation of exported jewellery. The customs proceedings were settled in 2016 following payment of approximately 48 crore rupees, while preserving the possibility of criminal prosecution; in 2018, the DRI approved the initiation of such proceedings.

State of the evidence
Settlement
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The Indian ExpressDRI to move against Nirav Modi in 2015 case, accused of misdeclaring exportsPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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08

2018

DRI 2018: New case concerning alleged diversion of diamonds and pearls, with estimated customs duties of up to 52 crore

No legal proceedings

In March 2018, the DRI registered a new case against Nirav Modi and two companies over the alleged diversion of duty-free diamonds and pearls worth approximately 890 crore rupees and possible customs-duty evasion of up to approximately 52 crore.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The Indian ExpressDRI registers case against Nirav Modi for diversion of diamonds worth Rs 890 crorePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

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