In response to a request by the Enforcement Directorate for Nirav Modi’s extradition in a money laundering case, officials said that a London court has issued an arrest warrant against the fugitive diamantaire.

They said the investigative agency has been recently informed about the issuance of the warrant by the Westminster Magistrate Court against Modi and he is expected to be put under formal arrest by the London Metropolitan police soon.

Modi, 48, is accused of siphoning Rs 13,500 crore from Punjab National Bank through fraudulent letters of undertaking and letters of credit in connivance with his uncle Mehul Choksi and bank officials. Modi and Choksi left India before the details of the fraud came to light in January 2018.

Modi will be subsequently brought before the court to secure bail and the legal proceedings for his extradition will begin thereafter, they said. Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London has issued an extradition warrant against Modi, making his arrest imminent, according to sources involved with the case.

Now that a warrant has reportedly been issued, Modi can choose to voluntarily surrender at a police station or have to be arrested by Metropolitan Police officers charged with executing the warrant.

The business tycoon’s arrest, which could take place within days, would lead to Modi being produced before a District Judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London to be formally charged, following which he is expected to seek bail.

The case will then follow a similar pattern through the UK courts as that of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who remains on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April 2017 on Rs 9,000 fraud and money laundering charges. The 63-year-old businessman has since filed an application seeking leave to appeal against his extradition ordered by UK home secretary Sajid Javid last month. Mallya’s case is in final stages in that country.

Modi has been chargesheeted by both the agencies and the ED has also attached his assets worth Rs 1,873.08 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and has also seized assets linked to him and his family worth Rs 489.75 crore.

Javid had certified India’s extradition request for Modi earlier this month, triggering the legal process in the courts, kick-started with the issuance of a warrant.

News of the certification of India’s request came just as Modi was tracked down to a three-bedroom flat in the Centre Point tower block of luxury apartments in the West End of London. He is believed to have arrived in London last year and was able to travel in and out of Britain at least four times since his passport was cancelled by the Indian authorities in February 2018.