Nirav Modi in UK, CBI seeks extradition

With the Interpol confirming the presence of fugitive diamond jeweller Nirav Modi, wanted in the Rs 13,500-crore PNB fraud, in the United Kingdom, the CBI on Monday moved to seek his detention and extradition to India, an official said on Monday.

According to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official, UK authorities confirmed Nirav Modi's presence in the country on Sunday through a mail after a diffusion notice was issued against him by the agency to the Interpol.

A diffusion notice is an international alert for the arrest of a specific person.

The official said that the CBI sent an extradition request to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday for approaching the UK authorities. The CBI official said that the agency had requested the Interpol to detain Nirav Modi on the basis of a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against him. Nirav Modi's location was not traced until then.

The Interpol revealed two months ago that Modi had travelled to six countries on a passport that was revoked by the Ministry of External Affairs.

On July 2, the Interpol had issued a RCN against Nirav Modi on the basis of money laundering charges levelled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

On August 2, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh informed Parliament that the government had sent a request to the UK for extraditing Nirav Modi.

Nirav Modi along with his uncle Mehul Choksi of the Gitanjali Group is under probe in the Punjab National Bank fraud case by both the CBI and the ED.

The ED had, on May 24 and 26, filed prosecution complaints or chargesheets against Choksi and Modi.

The court has taken cognisance of the chargesheets and issued non-bailable warrants against both.

Nirav Modi left India along with his family in the first week of January, weeks before the scam was reported to the CBI. His wife Ami, a US citizen, left on January 6 and Choksi on January 4.

Choksi was last traced to Antigua, where he has been granted citizenship.

--IANS

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