The country's second largest public sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) has moved Hong Kong High Court against diamond trader Nirav Modi in connection to the multi-crore scam carried out at Mumbai’s Brady House branch of the bank, news agency ANI reported on Saturday.
The bank will also approach the courts of other countries where Nirav Modi and his business partner, as well as the other prime accused in the scam, Mehul Choksi, have assets and businesses.
Earlier on 23 March, the government had asked authorities in Hong Kong to arrest Nirav Modi suggesting it believes the fugitive is in Chinese territory. Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh had told Parliament, "The ministry has sought the provisional arrest of Nirav Deepak Modi by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the People's Republic of China."
Responding to the request, China on 9 April had said that Hong Kong can choose to accede to and carry out the arrest based on local laws and mutual judicial assistance agreements. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang had told a media briefing, “According to the one country two systems and basic law of the HKSAR, under the assistance and authorisation of the central government, the HKSAR can make proper arrangement on judicial mutual assistance with other countries,” he said.
The passports of Modi and Choksi, both of whom fled India before the scandal emerged, have been revoked.
(With inputs from ANI)
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