Nirav Modi Not in London? Interpol Letter Says PNB Fraud Accused Has Been Travelling on Indian Passport For Past One Month

Mumbai, June 12: Is Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud prime accused Nirav Modi in London? Even as some reports said he is seeking political asylum in London, fresh reports say that Modi has been travelling on an Indian passport for the past one month and is not in London. An Aaj Tak report quoting Interpol agencies' letter to Indian authorities dated June 5 said that  Nirav Modi left London about a month ago.

The report says that Nirav Modi has been travelling on an Indian passport for the past one month and has visited four countries in the recent past. The Interpol letter reportedly reached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 6. Indian agencies have now written to the Ministry of External Affairs and have also asked Interpol agencies to inform them about Nirav Modi's current location.

Earlier last week, there were reports that Modi, who is at the centre of a money laundering case linked to over USD 2 billion PNB fraud, has fled to the UK where the absconding diamantaire sought asylum claiming “political persecution” back home.

Nirav Modi and his aide Mehul Choksi are being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate for allegedly cheating the PNB, the country’s second largest lender, to the tune of more than USD 2 billion. The duo and others are also being probed by other central agencies after the fraud came to light this year following a complaint by the PNB that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of over Rs 13,000 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank. Both Nirav Modi and Choksi are said to have left the country before criminal cases were lodged against them.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 13, 2018 12:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).