The government has sent a request to the U.K. for extradition of absconding jeweller Nirav Modi, wanted in India in connection with $2 billion scam in the Punjab National Bank. Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh also said two Red Corner Notices have been issued against Mr. Modi by the Interpol.
“An extradition request has been received in the Ministry of External Affairs from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the extradition of Nirav Deepak Modi from the United Kingdom (UK),” he said.
“The request has been sent by a Special Diplomatic Bag to the High Commission of India (HCI), London for onward transmission to the UK authorities,” Mr. Singh said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Mr. Modi and his uncle Mehul Chokshi are the main accused in the scam, India’s biggest banking fraud. Both of them left India before the details of the fraud came to light on January 16.
While it has now emerged that Mr. Choksi has taken citizenship of Caribbean island of Antigua, there is no clarity on whereabouts of Mr. Modi.
