Katju challenged as 'self-publicist' at Nirav Modi's UK hearing

Markandey Katju has told the UK court that Nirav Modi would not receive a fair trial in India because a majority of the judiciary was corrupt and the investigating agencies subservient to the government.

London: Retired Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju was challenged as a self-publicist on behalf of the Indian government on Friday as he gave evidence in the extradition case of fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi via a live videolink from India at Westminster Magistrates' Court here.

On the final day of a five-day hearing, Justice Samuel Goozee heard Katju's detailed evidence before adjourning the case until November 3, when he will hear arguments on the admissibility of the evidence provided by the Indian authorities on the charges of fraud and money laundering against the diamond merchant in the USD 2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case.

The UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian government, sought to counter Katju's written and oral claims that Modi would not receive a fair trial in India because a majority of the judiciary was corrupt and the investigating agencies subservient to the government.

Is it at least possible, you are something of a self-publicist who will make any outrageous statements for the purpose of courting the press, questioned barrister Helen Malcolm, to which Katju replied you are entitled to your opinion.

Malcolm also queried his decision to give media interviews in India earlier this week related to the evidence he was to give before the UK court in a sub judice matter, to which the former Supreme Court judge said that he merely responded to reporters' questions and that it was his duty to speak out on matters of national importance.

PTI