British authorities have confirmed to Indian officials that fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, accused of bank fraud worth ₹13,000 crore, is in the U.K. and assured cooperation in locating him. The assertion comes in the wake of a Financial Times report that Mr. Modi has sought asylum in the U.K.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Monday that it has sent a request to the Interpol for issuance of Red Notice against Mr. Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi.
Whereabouts not known
The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said the whereabouts of Mr. Modi were not confirmed.
“The Interpol is also yet to determine his present location. The moment his location is established, we will take further action,” said a CBI official. India has sent three letter rogatories to the U.K. Central Authority seeking assistance in investigations against Mr. Modi. The LRs (judicial requests for evidence) were sent to UKCA on March 19, April 14 and April 15.
Rijiju raises Nirav case with visiting U.K. team
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju met a five-member U.K. delegation led by Baroness Susan Williams, MoS for Countering Extremism, where the former raised the cases pending against Mr. Modi and the extradition proceedings against Vijay Mallya.
“Raising the issue of fugitive tycoons wanted by New Delhi for frauds and financial misappropriations, Mr. Rijiju said Britain should not be viewed as a safe haven for men wanted by the law of the other country for various offences.
On June 8, Raveesh Kumar, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, said at a press conference that he would not be able to provide the location of Mr. Modi.
As per details accessed by The Hindu , LRs in the cases lodged against Mr. Modi by ED, CBI and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) were sent to the U.K. Central Authority on March 19, April 14 and April 15 respectively. “UKCA has forwarded these LRs to the Serious Fraud Office for execution and conveyed that action would be taken on implementation of the ED’s LRs. ED and SFO have entered discussions on the way forward,” an internal document of the Home Ministry said. The Foreign Commonwealth Office has not confirmed or denied the presence of Mr. Modi, it said.
