Nirav Modi a business tycoon who has been on the run after the PNB scam has recently been reported by the UK government that he was in London and the CBI has requested for his extradition. The PNB fraud had reportedly begun in the year 2011. CBI has also requested the UK authorities to detain Nirav Modi, with the Interpol has already issued a ‘red corner’ notice against the businessman on 2 July.
The issue of the scam was substantially uncovered and detected on 14 February of this year, after which bank executives reported the matter to the investigation agencies. Modi had fled India in January this year, nearly a fortnight before the scam was detected and looked into for investigation and carry out appropriate measures.
“We have also sent a copy of the Interpol Red Notice issued against Modi, seeking his immediate detention and intimation,” said an official of the CBI.
Nirav Modi is the 29th fugitive the Indian government has asked the UK to extradite since 2002. The UK government in the past 16 years has rejected India’s request for extradition in the case of nine fugitives. Cases like that of Vijay Mallya is still pending before the UK government.V.K. Singh, informed the Rajya Sabha last month that the request for extradition of the fugitive tycoon from the UK had been sent to the High Commission of India in London and was awaiting a response.
“The request from the Enforcement Directorate for the extradition of Nirav Modi was forwarded to the UK Central Authority on August 03, 2018. This was based on the two red corner notices which were issued by the ED. Now we wait for the response of the British government on this matter,” stated Raveesh Kumar who was the spokesperson with the external affairs ministry.
Mehul Choksi, uncle of Nirav Modi, who also held stakes in this scam was recently reported trying to get an Antiguan citizenship and the Indian government had requested to not grant him any citizenship. This request from India was met with a response from the Antiguan government that it would only accept the request on ‘legitimate grounds’