PNB Fraud: Nirav Modi in Hong Kong, MEA Seeks Extradition

There is an agreement between India and Hong Kong about the surrender of fugitive offenders, said Kumar.

Nirav Modi is the main accused in an alleged fraud of over Rs 13,000 crore in the Punjab National Bank.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Nirav Modi)

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, 12 April, said they have requested authorities in Hong Kong to surrender international jeweller Nirav Modi, and are waiting for a response on the same.

Nirav Modi has been absconding for quite some time now. Latest reports suggested that Modi may have been spotted in Hong Kong.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, in a press conference at the ministry in New Delhi, said, “We are aware of the written reply submitted to Parliament which shared that Nirav Modi is in Hong Kong. Have requested Hong Kong authorities to surrender Nirav Modi,” The Indian Express reported.

However, he added that as of this moment, Hong Kong had not shared any information with them regarding Modi or his arrest.

Kumar said Hong Kong was obliged by an agreement between the two countries to return Modi to India.

There is an agreement between India and Hong Kong about the surrender of fugitive offenders. We are still awaiting a response. 

Raveesh Kumar

Modi had reportedly left the country in January, before the news that he, along with his uncle Mehul Choksi and a few others, had scammed the Punjab National Bank of over Rs 13,000 crore. Modi, his wife, brother, and Choksi were booked by the CBI for allegedly cheating the public bank.

The jeweller, who before the scam was boasting of running a billion-dollar diamond business, had recently stated that he would not “submit to the jurisdiction of Indian agencies or courts,” reported The Times of India.

Worried by this, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, 11 April, directed his company, Firestar Diamond, to request him to return to India.

(With inputs from The Indian Express and The Times of India)