The Central Bureau of Investigation has not yet received any response to the Interpol diffusion notice issued on its request, seeking the current location of diamond merchant Nirav Modi in connection with the Rs.13,578-crore Punjab National Bank scam.
Amid reports that Mr. Nirav Modi is now in London, an agency source said that none of the Interpol member countries have so far responded to the diffusion notice establishing his whereabouts. His passport has already been “revoked” by the External Affairs Ministry, on the Enforcement Directorate’s request, to restrict his movement overseas.
The accused businessman had flown out of the country along with his wife, brother and uncle Mehul Choksi in the first week of January, days before the bank lodged a complaint with the CBI and the ED, seeking action against them.
Since then, the fugitive is said to have travelled to the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States. On March 23, the External Affairs Ministry had approached the Hong Kong authorities seeking his provisional arrest, but did not get any response.
As the CBI recently filed the first round of charge sheets against Mr. Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, the agency is expected to approach the Interpol later this week for issuance of Red Notice seeking assistance from the member countries in arresting them.
While Mr. Nirav Modi’s brother is currently suspected to be in Belgium’s Antwerp with their parents, their sister Purvi Mehta is said to be in Hong Kong. His wife is a US citizen.
