Fugitive Indian jeweller Nirav Modi will be allowed to appeal on mental health grounds against his extradition from the UK to face charges of embezzling $1.8 billion from a state-owned bank, London’s High Court has ruled.
Mr Modi, 50, known as the jeweller to the stars for his work dressing celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, was told in February he would have to return to stand trial in India, a move approved by British Home Secretary Priti Patel.
He fled his homeland two years earlier because of the police investigation into his dealings. Mr Modi is accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank, money laundering, witness intimidation and destroying evidence.
Judge Martin Chamberlain on Monday said any appeal would be likely to examine whether the decision to extradite was correct given evidence in court about Mr Modi’s depression, his risk of suicide and the ability of Indian authorities to prevent any attempt.
Mr Chamberlain said in his judgment that “the question for me is simply whether the appellant's case on these grounds is reasonably arguable. In my judgment, it is.”
Mr Modi has been held in London’s Wandsworth prison since his arrest in 2019 after he was tracked to his luxury apartment by newspaper reporters.
His health has been examined in prison. A psychiatrist called by Mr Modi’s legal team said Mr Modi posed "a substantial, albeit not immediate, risk of suicide", while another expert argued that the prison in which he would be held in Mumbai “struggles to provide proper psychological care for inmates”.
Mr Modi is one of a number of high-profile Indian businessmen being sought by Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, in an effort to tackle high-level crime. Three decades of extradition efforts have resulted in only three people returning to face justice.
Both Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, the brewing and aircraft tycoon, face extradition in a sign of growing political pressure to retrieve the country’s highest-profile fugitives. Mr Mallya was declared bankrupt while fighting his extradition in London.
An attempt in January by the US government to extradite the WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange from the UK to face espionage charges failed, as a judge ruled he was a serious suicide risk if he were transferred. Washington has challenged the decision.
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Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
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Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
- Life in the royal residences with Sheikha Osha bint Nahayan
- Sheikha Mahra and Sheikha Sabha recall their time spent in Al Hosn
- A place where problems were solved
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World Mental Health Day
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Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Pakhtoons 137-6 (10 ov)
Fletcher 68 not out; Cutting 2-14
Sindhis 129-8 (10 ov)
Perera 47; Sohail 2-18
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Neighbourhood Watch
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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The five pillars of Islam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
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Quick%20facts
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Kill%20
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Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
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