NEW DELHI: A London court has issued an arrest warrant against fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, who is wanted by Indian agencies in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, in response to an ED request for his extradition in a money laundering case, PTI reported quoting officials on Monday. The Enforcement Directorate was recently informed about the issuance of the warrant by the Westminster Magistrate Court, the officials said. They said Modi is expected to be put under formal arrest by the local police (London Metropolitan police) soon. The warrant was issued a few days back and the ED was subsequently informed. After the arrest, Modi will be brought before the court to secure bail and the legal proceedings for his extradition will begin thereafter, they said. A similar procedure was followed when absconding liquor businessman Vijay Mallya was arrested by the London police after a warrant was issued based on the ED's request to extradite him to India in a money laundering case pegged at Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya's case is in final stages in that country. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), early this month, had said that United Kingdom's home secretary Sajid Javid had referred India's request for extraditing Modi to a court for initiating legal proceedings against the diamantaire. The ED and the CBI are investigating Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others for alleged money laundering and corruption to perpetrate the alleged scam in the Brady House branch of the PNB in Mumbai that was unearthed last year. Meanwhile, ABP News on Monday tracked down the fugitive diamantaire in London. When asked about his fraud, Modi remained silent and avoided every question posed at him. Modi was asked to make his stand clear on the charges pressed against him by Indian agencies, but he refrained from speaking. Modi, 48, is currently living in a three-bedroom flat occupying half of a floor of the landmark Centre Point tower block in London, where rent is estimated to cost 17,000 pounds a month, UK's Telegraph newspaper had reported. 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.