Mumbai: A Mumbai special court on Tuesday allowed the application of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the issuance of an extradition request against diamond jeweller Nirav Modi, who along with his uncle Mehul Chokshi, is the main accused in a money laundering case pertaining to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud.

The ED had moved the special court seeking the extradition of Modi on Monday.  

According to the special public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar, the extradition request had been sought on the grounds that Modi has not responded to mandatory summons during the investigation by probe agencies. Also,  the non-bailable warrant against him was not executed.

He added that Modi has not remained present before the trial court. And as he is known to be absconding in a foreign country, the process of extradition has been initiated.Judge Salman Azmi, presiding over the PM-LA special court, accepted the application.