‘Nirav staffer unaware of what he signed’

Hemant Bhat, the authorised signatory of three firms belonging to diamond merchant Nirav Modi, has claimed that he was “unaware of what documents he was signing.”

The explanation was put forward by Mr. Bhat’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal at the Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Monday, while seeking bail for the employee. Mr. Bhat has been in judicial custody for 109 days.

Mr. Aggarwal argued that while Mr. Bhat was merely an authorised signatory of the three Nirav Modi firms — M/s Diamonds R US, M/s Solar Exports and M/s Stellar Diamond — and

was in jail, other accused who have been charge-sheeted remain at large.

The advocate contended that the trial is unlikely to commence in the near future as the CBI is yet to get sanction for the prosecution of several of the accused.

Hence it would be a violation of his client’s rights if he were to remain in custody during the duration of the investigation, Mr. Aggarwal said.