The hearing in fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi’s extradition case has started in the Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London. The case is related to the estimated Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering charges brought by the Indian government.

His uncle Mehul Choksi is also an accused in the case. The case first came to light when PNB filed a case in January 2018, against Modi and others over the alleged fraud.

The 49-year-old jeweller, who has been behind bars in a London prison since his arrest in March last year, appeared via a videolink dressed in a dark suit and sporting beard.

Representatives from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were in court and logged into the remote court network to observe the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) present their case before District Judge Samuel Goozee.

The hearings this week are ear-marked to complete those arguments after the Indian government had submitted additional “corroboratory evidence”.