#PNBScam : India makes formal request to UK for extradition of fugitive jeweler Nirav Modi
New Delhi, August 3: India has asked United Kingdom to extradite Nirav Modi, the main accused in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. This was said by Minister of State for External Affairs Ministry General VK Singh on Thursday.
In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, General VK Singh said that the request for extradition of Nirav Modi had been sent to the High Commission of India in London. “The request has been sent by a special diplomatic bag to the High Commission of India, London for onward transmission to the UK authorities,” VK Singh added. He further informed Rajya Sabha that two Interpol Red Corner Notices had already been issued against Modi.
However, the track record of extraditions from the UK have not been exactly good for India. Since 2002, India has so far made 29 such requests of which 9 have been rejected. Further the UK court also declined to issue arrest warrants in three cases. The remaining 15 cases, which includes that of Vijay Mallya's is pending. Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel is the only fugitive whom the UK extradited to India in the past 16 years.
BACKGROUND:
The development comes nearly six months after the biggest fraudulent case hit Mumbai in the month of February where Punjab National Bank reported that it has detected fraudulent and unauthorized transactions in one of its branches in Mumbai. The cumulative fraud amounts stand to Rs 13000 crores.
After the scam was unveiled, the Enforcement Directorate and CBI registered an FIR under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and conducted scathing raids after the surfacing of the alleged fraud by billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi and his Mumbai-based firms Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds.
Recently, the ED also filed a charge sheet against Nirav Modi and his several countries and many other senior bank officials for their involvement in the mega scam. The CBI sealed Brady House branch of Punjab National Bank in Mumbai from where the Rs 11,378.68 Crores PNB scam was originated.
In March, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the fugitive offender Nirav Modi, who was involved in more than Rs 13,000 PNB scam is in Hong Kong. However, Indian authorities have already sought the provisional arrest of Nirav Modi to Hong Kong. MEA has also revoked the visa of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.
In May, taking a stern action against billionaire jeweler Nirav Modi for his involvement in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached a Rs 52.80 crore wind farm.
Importantly, 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 2018and registered the case on 31st January.