The Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday rejected a request by the defense team for diamantaire Nirav Modi to keep secret the next statement from his witness, former High Court Judge Abhay Thipsay, who was allegedly attacked ‘ad hominem’ by the minister. Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad after his first deposition in May.
Thipsay had told the court through a video link from India on May 13 that the Indian government’s charges against Modi would not be upheld in an Indian court. The following day, Prasad reportedly held a press conference in New Delhi, attacking Thipsay and Congress.
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Claire Montgomery, a lawyer for Modi, asked Judge Samuel Goozee to keep Thipsay’s forthcoming statement a secret or to impose information restrictions so that it is not targeted again in India.
According to her, Thipsay’s deposition in May had provoked a “shameful attack” by Prasad at the press conference and “very hostile” reporting in the mainstream media. She said Thipsay was concerned that another appearance in the case would lead to more attacks.
Judge Goozee referred to the precedents and details presented to say that the circumstances did not justify holding Thipsay’s next statement in secret or to impose information restrictions. He noted that the former judge had not refused to give more evidence.
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Accusing Thipsay of acting on behalf of Congress, which he had joined in 2018, Prasad reportedly said at the May press meeting: “There are overwhelming suspicious circumstances from which we can infer that Congress is doing everything possible to save and rescue Nirav. Modi “.
The magistrates court is hearing Modi’s extradition case for five days this week, with more hearings scheduled for the end of the year and a trial expected in December. Modi, who is housed at Wandsworth Jail, appeared in court via video link.
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