'Govt of India committed to expeditious extradition of Nirav Modi'

India is committed to expeditious extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, said Raveesh Kumar, the spokesperson the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday.

Responding to a query during the weekly press briefing here, Kumar said, "We welcome the action taken by the UK Government. The UK Crown Prosecution service informed us on 18 March that a senior district judge in the Westminster Magistrate court issued an arrest warrant against Nirav Modi".

He added, "Nirav Modi was arrested by the Metropolitan police on the basis of the warrant issued against him. Next day, after a short hearing, he was taken in custody. The legal proceedings will take its course."

Addressing the concerns about the delay in the extradition process, he said, "We can confirm there was no delay which can be attributed to our side. The bail application, etc, belongs to the realm of proceedings."

Kumar also responded to a query regarding the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, saying, "The oral proceeding at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has already concluded. We have presented our case before the court. Now, it is for the ICJ to take a decision as to the way forward, so, we are waiting."

Talking about the internal listing of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar by the European Union (EU), the MEA spokesperson said, "France had issued a statement on the internal listing of Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist."

"In a telephonic conversation that French Foreign Minister Le Drian had with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, he had indicated that France would take up the matter pertaining to Azhar's listing with the EU. We understand that the EU will take a decision once there process is complete. It has to be a unanimous decision," he added.

He also responded to Pakistan's report on the so-called Hindu terrorism in India wherein, Kumar said that the report is Islamabad's futile attempt to deflect pressure building on its nation.

"I am not aware of this reports, however, I can generally say that this is an attempt to deflect pressure building on Pakistan and to deflect the tension of their community and people from the mess that country is in," he asserted.