New Delhi: Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi is likely to be extradited to India on November 23, according to a report by India Today, marking a potential breakthrough in the long-running legal battle over his return.

The development follows a fresh letter of assurance sent by the Indian government to British authorities, in which India has guaranteed that, if extradited, Modi will only face trial for fraud and money laundering and will not be interrogated or taken into custody by any other agency.

The assurance, described as a sovereign guarantee, was jointly submitted by five Indian agencies: the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), and the Customs and Income Tax departments.

According to sources cited by India Today, Modi will be held at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, a facility designated for high-profile detainees and said to meet acceptable standards for prisoner welfare.

Modi was arrested in March 2019 after being accused in a multi-billion dollar Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. His extradition was cleared by UK courts in 2021, but his legal team has since fought to block it, citing concerns over prison conditions and his mental health. However, with the UK High Court recently allowing Modi to reopen his extradition appeal, India’s updated assurances are expected to play a key role in the court’s final decision.