In a major development, CBI registers additional FIR against Nirav Modi for cheating PNB of Rs 321 crore

New Delhi, March 8: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday filed a fresh case against fugitive billionaire Jewler Nirav Modi and top officials of his firm Firestar Diamond on a complaint by Punjab National Bank that it was cheated of Rs 321 crore by availing different credit facilities between the year 2013 and 2017.

 

CBI has named Nirav Modi, the President of Firestar Vipul Ambani, Chief Financial Officer of Firestar Ravi Shankar Gupta other directors/promoters of the company and unknown officials of the Punjab National Bank. After the FIR was registered, CBI carried searches at several places.

Notably, the Punjab National Bank approached CBI on March 4 with a fresh complaint alleging that Firestar group of companies including Firestar International Ltd and Firestar Diamond International Pvt Ltd committed fraud on it worth Rs 321.88 crore through its branch at Brady House, Mumbai.

Billionaire Diamond Jeweller Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and others are already being investigated by multiple probe agencies after a recent complaint by the PNB, that they allegedly cheated the bank to the tune of 11,400 crore rupees. CBI had registered two FIRs pertaining to the scam perpetrated by Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi.

After the scam was unveiled, the Enforcement Directorate registered an FIR under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Nirav Modi and his Mumbai-based firms Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds.

CBI sealed Brady House branch of Punjab National Bank in Mumbai from where the Rs 11,378.68 Crores PNB scam was originated and arrested GM level officer Rajesh Jindal. The Ministry of External Affairs revoked the passports of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. The decision was based on the advice of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which filed money laundering cases against Modi and Choksi.

Nirav Modi and his brother Nishal Modi left the country on 1st of January this year. Nirav Modi's wife, an American citizen, left India on 6 January while Mehul Choksi left the country on 4 January. CBI received a complaint from PNB on 29th Jan 2018 and registered the case on 31st January.