The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday suspended the passports of billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi and his relative Mehul Choksi. It said that it would revoke their passports if they failed to respond to the notice of suspension within four weeks.
The announcement came a day after the CBI revealed that the duo have fled India.
“The Ministry of External Affairs has today suspended the validity of passports of Mr. Nirav Deepak Modi and Mr. Mehul Chinubhai Choksi with immediate effect for a period of four weeks u/s 10 (A) of the Passports Act 1967,” the Ministry said in a press release.
Action follows ED advice
Setting in motion the consular procedure to nab the two, the MEA said the step was taken on the advice of the Enforcement Directorate
“Mr. Nirav Deepak Modi and Mr. Mehul Chinubhai Choksi have been asked to respond within one week as to why their passports should not be impounded or revoked under Section 10 (3) (c) of the Passports Act 1967. If they fail to respond within the stipulated time it will be assumed that they have no response to offer and the MEA will go ahead with the revocation,” the MEA said in a press release.
The duo are wanted for allegedly duping Punjab National Bank, one of the biggest public sector banks of the country.
