Nirav Modi appears before UK court

London: Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India in connection with the nearly USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case, appeared before a UK court on Thursday via videolink from his London prison and was further remanded in judicial custody till September 19. The routine “call-over” hearing in the 48-year-old’s extradition case at Westminster Magistrates’ Court was presided over by Judge Tan Ikram, who told Modi that his trial dates would be confirmed at the next hearing on September 19, when he will again appear via videolink. “No progress today, I’m afraid,” Judge Ikram said, as he gave directions for the court clerk to seek a confirmation of the proposed five-day extradition trial dates starting May 11, 2020. There is also likely to be a case management hearing in the case ahead of the trial in February next year. (PTI)