Former Supreme Court judge Justice Deepak Verma has appeared before the United Kingdom Supreme Court and given evidence in support of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi’s appeal against extradition to India.
According to a report by The Times of India, Justice Verma said that, if India extradites Modi, the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate and other investigating agencies are likely to interrogate him. Modi has resisted extradition by claiming that such interrogation in India could expose him to torture.
Justice Verma reportedly also said that the sovereign assurance given by the Indian government—that Modi would not face interrogation by the CBI and ED—would not bind courts in India. During the hearing, counsel for the Indian government questioned Justice Verma’s expertise. After hearing the matter, the UK Supreme Court reserved judgment.
Earlier Judges Also Backed Modi
Justice Verma is not the first former Indian judge to support Nirav Modi in the United Kingdom proceedings.
In 2021, former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandeya Katju appeared before the Westminster Magistrate’s Court and supported Modi, stating that the chances of a fair trial in India were lower. However, the UK court rejected Justice Katju’s opinion and found it neither objective nor reliable.
The court observed that Justice Katju’s opinion against the Indian judiciary “appeared tinged with resentment towards former senior judicial colleagues” and carried “hallmarks of an outspoken critic with his own personal agenda”.
Former Bombay High Court judge Justice Abhay Thipsay also gave evidence in Modi’s support in the same proceedings. The court ultimately rejected that evidence as well.
