Nirav Modi Flees Hong Kong, PNB Scam Accused Reportedly in NYC

India had requested Hong Kong authorities to arrest Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of the PNB scam.

File image of Nirav Modi. 

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Nirav Modi)

Nirav Modi, the businessman accused of allegedly scamming Punjab National Bank (PNB) of over Rs 12,000 crores, has reportedly shifted base to New York, reported CNN-News18. The channel has reportedly accessed a Government of India dossier, which follows the trail of the escaped-diamond merchant since he left Mumbai on 1 January 2018.

According to the report, Modi first went to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Mumbai, from where he moved to Hong Kong in the third week of March. He then fled to London and subsequently to New York in the United States.

The government of India had reportedly approached the Chinese government when Modi was reported to be in Hong Kong but he left for London before the authorities in Beijing could act further, reported Firstpost.

Both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were on his trail. According to ANI, PNB, on 21 April, had moved the Hong Kong High Court against the fugitive jeweller.

Modi and his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi are accused of a Rs 12,000-crore fraud on state-run Punjab National Bank.  They allegedly got fake Letters of Undertakings or comfort documents issued to commit the fraud.

The Ministry of External Affairs had served show cause notices to Modi and Choksi on 16 February, giving them a week to respond. Their passports were revoked on 23 February 2018.

(This is a developing story and will be updated)

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