Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi has reportedly lost his final legal challenge against extradition before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), clearing the last remaining legal hurdle for his transfer to India to face trial in the alleged Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and related money laundering cases.
According to reports citing official documents and sources familiar with the matter, the Strasbourg-based court declined to grant Mr Modi any relief after he approached it in April 2026, leaving him with no further legal avenues to challenge his extradition.
The development paves the way for the UK authorities to complete the administrative formalities required to hand Modi over to Indian agencies.
Mr Modi has been lodged in Wandsworth Prison in London since his arrest in March 2019. He is wanted by central bureau of investigation (CBI) and directorate of enforcement (ED) in connection with the alleged ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank fraud and a related money laundering investigation.
Mr Modi moved the European Court of Human Rights after exhausting all available remedies before UK courts.
His application followed the refusal by the UK High Court to grant permission to challenge his extradition. The court had held that assurances provided by the Indian government regarding prison conditions and medical treatment were adequate.
Earlier this year, the King's Bench Division of the High Court also dismissed Mr Modi's plea seeking to reopen the extradition proceedings.
During the pendency of the ECHR proceedings, the Court had granted anonymity to Mr Modi's application, a standard procedure in certain cases, and did not disclose details while the matter was under consideration.
With the ECHR now declining relief, diplomatic and investigative sources said no judicial remedies remain available to Mr Modi against his extradition.
India's extradition request was first approved by the Westminster Magistrates' Court in 2021 after the court found a prima facie case against Mr Modi.
Since then, Mr Modi has filed multiple bail applications and appeals before British courts, all of which have been unsuccessful.
With the legal process now effectively concluded, UK authorities have reportedly initiated administrative procedures required for his extradition to India.
Indian investigative agencies have accused Mr Modi of fraudulently obtaining letters of undertaking (LoUs) and bank guarantees from Punjab National Bank which were allegedly used to raise overseas credit from foreign branches of other banks.
According to investigators, the funds were subsequently routed through a network of shell companies, resulting in one of India's biggest banking frauds.
Apart from the CBI case relating to bank fraud, ED is pursuing money laundering charges against Modi. He also faces proceedings relating to alleged destruction of evidence and influencing witnesses connected with the criminal investigation.
The latest development comes weeks after Mr Modi suffered another legal setback in UK.
Last month, the London Circuit Commercial Court ordered him to pay more than US$10.7mn (million) to Bank of India in a commercial loan recovery dispute arising from a personal guarantee executed for Dubai-based Firestar Diamond FZE, a company associated with him.
In the judgement, justice Simon Tinkler held Mr Modi personally liable under the guarantee for the outstanding dues, ruling in favour of Bank of India.
With the ECHR declining to intervene, Mr Modi's extradition now appears to depend only on the completion of administrative and diplomatic formalities between the UK and Indian authorities before he is brought back to face trial.
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