India, March 18 -- In a last-ditch bid to stall his extradition to India, fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi has moved the UK High Court to reopen his long-running appeal, arguing that fresh developments and the risk of ill-treatment in Indian custody warrant a reconsideration of his case. The two-day hearing on the application concludedon Tuesday, with the court reserving its judgment.

Appearing before a two-judge bench, Edward Fitzgerald, representing Nirav Modi, argued that there remains a risk of his client being moved out of Mumbai's Arthur Road jail and subjected to coercive interrogation. He questioned the reliability of sovereign assurances offered by Indian authorities, saying they cannot be taken at face value. Fitzgerald submitte...