In response to WION's query on Nirav Modi's whereabouts, Hong Kong's Department of Justice said, 'the Department of Justice does not comment on individual cases.'

WION had raised a query to Hong Kong's justice department regarding Nirav Modi's extradition which was met with a reply that no comments will be made on individual cases.&nbsp;

China, earlier this month, said Hong Kong was free to accept India's request to arrest Modi on the basis of the local laws of the region and judicial agreements between the two.&nbsp;

While Hong Kong is part of the People's Republic of China, it is an autonomous region with its own laws.&nbsp;

A provisional arrest has to be made before a formal extradition can be requested.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Nirav Modi's presence in Hong Kong has been confirmed. In a written reply to the Parliament, it was stated that India had approached the Hong Kong authorities on March 23 regarding Nirav Modi's provisional arrest.

Besides this, the Punjab National Bank has approached Hong Kong Court against Nirav Modi after moving the insolvency authority in the US.&nbsp;

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The bank plans to approach other jurisdictions where Nirav Modi and his associates have assets and properties as part of recovery process, a senior PNB official said.&nbsp;

Hong Kong authorities have been approached and a recovery writ has been filed against companies of Nirav Modi, the official said without disclosing other details.&nbsp;

Billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi figures at the centre of an Rs 13,000-crore fraud.&nbsp;

Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated PNB of over Rs13,000 crore through fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs).&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

China, earlier this month, said Hong Kong was free to accept India's request to arrest Modi on the basis of the local laws of the region

In response to WION's query on Nirav Modi's whereabouts, Hong Kong's Department of Justice said, 'the Department of Justice does not comment on individual cases.' WION had raised a query to Hong Kong's justice department regarding Nirav Modi's extradition which was met with a reply that no comments will be made on individual cases. China, earlier this month, said Hong Kong was free to accept India's request to arrest Modi on the basis of the local laws of the region and judicial agreements between the two. While Hong Kong is part of the People's Republic of China, it is an autonomous region with its own laws. A provisional arrest has to be made before a formal extradition can be requested. Meanwhile, Nirav Modi's presence in Hong Kong has been confirmed. In a written reply to the Parliament, it was stated that India had approached the Hong Kong authorities on March 23 regarding Nirav Modi's provisional arrest. Besides this, the Punjab National Bank has approached Hong Kong Court against Nirav Modi after moving the insolvency authority in the US. Hong Kong's Department of Justice in a response to ANI about Nirav Modi's whereabouts said, 'the Department of Justice does not comment on individual cases.' — ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2018 × The bank plans to approach other jurisdictions where Nirav Modi and his associates have assets and properties as part of recovery process, a senior PNB official said. Hong Kong authorities have been approached and a recovery writ has been filed against companies of Nirav Modi, the official said without disclosing other details. Billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi figures at the centre of an Rs 13,000-crore fraud. Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated PNB of over Rs13,000 crore through fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs). (With inputs from PTI)

Watch: Hong Kong refuses to comment on Nirav Modi's whereabouts

Punjab National Bank on Saturday moved Hong Kong High Court against Nirav Modi, news agency ANI reports.&nbsp;

PNB will also approach the courts of other countries where Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi have assets and businesses, reports said.

On March 23, the government had asked authorities in Hong Kong to arrest Nirav Modi suggesting it believes the fugitive is in the Chinese territory.&nbsp;

India's Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh told parliament last week that "the ministry has sought the provisional arrest of Nirav Deepak Modi by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the People's Republic of China."

Regarding India's request, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on April 9 had told a media briefing here that "according to the one country two systems and basic law of the HKSAR, under the assistance and authorisation of the central government, the HKSAR can make proper arrangement on judicial mutual assistance with other countries," he said.

"If India makes relevant request to the HKSAR, we believe the HKSAR will follow the basic law and relevant laws and under relevant judicial agreements with India with the relevant issue," he said.

Billionaire Nirav Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after the scam recently came to light following a complaint by the PNB that they had allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of Rs

11,400 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.

The ED has registered the money laundering case against Nirav Modi, his firms and others on the basis of a CBI FIR.

The CBI and the ED have registered FIRs to probe the case and intensified the crackdown on Nirav Modi and Choksi with the ED seizing jewellery and assets worth thousands of crores of rupees, the I-T department attaching various properties, and the CBI grilling several senior executives of his company.

PNB will also approach the courts of other countries where Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi have assets and businesses, reports said.

Punjab National Bank on Saturday moved Hong Kong High Court against Nirav Modi, news agency ANI reports. PNB will also approach the courts of other countries where Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi have assets and businesses, reports said. On March 23, the government had asked authorities in Hong Kong to arrest Nirav Modi suggesting it believes the fugitive is in the Chinese territory. India's Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh told parliament last week that "the ministry has sought the provisional arrest of Nirav Deepak Modi by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the People's Republic of China." Regarding India's request, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on April 9 had told a media briefing here that "according to the one country two systems and basic law of the HKSAR, under the assistance and authorisation of the central government, the HKSAR can make proper arrangement on judicial mutual assistance with other countries," he said. "If India makes relevant request to the HKSAR, we believe the HKSAR will follow the basic law and relevant laws and under relevant judicial agreements with India with the relevant issue," he said. Billionaire Nirav Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after the scam recently came to light following a complaint by the PNB that they had allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank. The ED has registered the money laundering case against Nirav Modi, his firms and others on the basis of a CBI FIR. The CBI and the ED have registered FIRs to probe the case and intensified the crackdown on Nirav Modi and Choksi with the ED seizing jewellery and assets worth thousands of crores of rupees, the I-T department attaching various properties, and the CBI grilling several senior executives of his company.

PNB moves Hong Kong High Court against Nirav Modi

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-non-bailable-warrants-issued-against-nirav-modi-mehul-choksi-on-cbi-plea-129156">PNB scam: Non-bailable warrants issued against Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi on CBI plea</a>

A special CBI court in Mumbai has issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi in connection with the cases related to over $2 billion banking fraud in the Punjab National Bank, officials said in New Delhi on Sunday.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/rajinikanth-wants-chennai-players-to-wear-black-armbands-this-is-why-129122">Rajinikanth wants Chennai players to wear black armbands. This is why</a>

Rajinikanth on Sunday urged IPL franchise Chennai and its fans to wear a black armband as a show of solidarity with the protests in Tamil Nadu calling for the quick set up of a Cauvery management board.&nbsp&nbsp

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/china-objects-to-indias-transgression-in-arunachal-pradesh-india-rejects-the-protest-129126">China objects to India's 'transgression' in Arunachal Pradesh India rejects the protest</a>

In yet another incident of discord, the Chinese military last month strongly protested against what it called the Indian Army's transgressions into the strategically sensitive Asaphila area along the border in Arunachal Pradesh, but the Indian side roundly dismissed the complaint, official sources said.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/worst-behind-us-will-be-out-of-nirav-modi-mess-in-6-months-pnb-md--129125">Worst behind </a><a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/worst-behind-us-will-be-out-of-nirav-modi-mess-in-6-months-pnb-md--129125">us,</a><a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/worst-behind-us-will-be-out-of-nirav-modi-mess-in-6-months-pnb-md--129125"> will be out of Nirav Modi mess in 6 months: PNB MD</a>

The worst is over for PNB and it will come out of the mess created by the Nirav Modi fraud case in six months, the state-run lender's Managing Director Sunil Mehta said Sunday.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-afghanistan-to-act-against-fugitives-irreconcilable-militants-129127">Pakistan, Afghanistan to act against fugitives, irreconcilable militants</a>

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to take action against fugitives and the irreconcilable militants under a bilateral agreement for regional peace and security, the Foreign Office said today.

PNB scam: Non-bailable warrants issued against Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi on CBI plea A special CBI court in Mumbai has issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi in connection with the cases related to over $2 billion banking fraud in the Punjab National Bank, officials said in New Delhi on Sunday. Rajinikanth wants Chennai players to wear black armbands. This is why Rajinikanth on Sunday urged IPL franchise Chennai and its fans to wear a black armband as a show of solidarity with the protests in Tamil Nadu calling for the quick set up of a Cauvery management board. China objects to India's 'transgression' in Arunachal Pradesh India rejects the protest In yet another incident of discord, the Chinese military last month strongly protested against what it called the Indian Army's transgressions into the strategically sensitive Asaphila area along the border in Arunachal Pradesh, but the Indian side roundly dismissed the complaint, official sources said. Worst behind us, will be out of Nirav Modi mess in 6 months: PNB MD The worst is over for PNB and it will come out of the mess created by the Nirav Modi fraud case in six months, the state-run lender's Managing Director Sunil Mehta said Sunday. Pakistan, Afghanistan to act against fugitives, irreconcilable militants Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to take action against fugitives and the irreconcilable militants under a bilateral agreement for regional peace and security, the Foreign Office said today.

Newsbrief: Big stories of the day

A special CBI court in Mumbai has issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against billionaire diamantaire <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/worst-behind-us-will-be-out-of-nirav-modi-mess-in-6-months-pnb-md--129125">Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi</a> in connection with the cases related to over $2 billion banking fraud in the Punjab National Bank, officials said in New Delhi on Sunday.

The special court has allowed the application of the agency for the issuance of NBWs against Modi and Choksi who had repeatedly refused to join the investigation in the scam, considered the biggest in the banking history of the country, the officials said.

The agency had written to Modi and Choksi to join probe on their official e-mail ids but they have refused to join it citing business engagements and health issues. The issuance of NBWs by a court also opens door of seeking Red Corner Notices against both of the accused from the Interpol.

The government has claimed to have tracked Modi in Hong Kong where it has sent a request for his provisional arrest.

The CBI, in the meanwhile, is questioning officials of overseas branches of Indian banks which had extended credit facilities to the companies of Modi and Choksi on the basis of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) issued by the Punjab National Bank’s Brady House branch in Mumbai.

The agency has also summoned the official who handled foreign exchange transactions in the Hong Kong branch of the Allahabad bank, they said, adding that he may join the probe soon.

It is alleged that the LoUs and LCs worth close to $2 billion were issued to the companies of the uncle-nephew duo of Choksi and Modi from the Brady Road branch of the bank through SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) messages.

Several bank employees have been booked for collusion in the case, they said. The LoU is a guarantee which is given by an issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant a short-term credit to the applicant. In case of default, the bank issuing the LoU has to pay the liability to the credit giving bank along with accruing interest.

These messages were allegedly not entered in the banking software of the PNB to bypass surveillance. Modi (46), a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with his wife, brother and Choksi for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB. Both Choksi and Modi have been booked in two cases each related to the bank fraud.

The uncle-nephew duo had managed to flee the country in the first week of January days before the PNB was able to detect the fraud. The bank officials also fraudulently issued foreign letters of credit or FLCs in which the PNB guaranteed payment on behalf of the accused to their suppliers which was to be recovered from the firms of Choksi and Nirav Modi, they alleged.

Funds raised through LoUs were meant to be used for the payment of import bills of the accused companies whereas it was dishonesty and fraudulently utilised for discharging the earlier liabilities on account of buyer’s credit facilities in a kind of roll over of payments, they alleged.

The PNB has alleged in its complaint that they opened the Letters of Credit initially for smaller amounts by creating purported entries in the core banking system, they said.

The accused bank officials pursuant to the conspiracy unauthorisedly enhanced the values of the FLCs and issued amendments to the FLCs issued through SWIFT which were encashed in overseas branches of Indian banks.

According to the RBI guidelines, LoUs for gems should not be valid for more than 90 days. The CBI had approached the Interpol with a request for issuing ‘Diffusion Notice’ which was aimed at locating an individual.

A court has allowed the application of CBI for issuance of non-bailable warrants against Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi who had repeatedly refused to join the probe.

A special CBI court in Mumbai has issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi in connection with the cases related to over $2 billion banking fraud in the Punjab National Bank, officials said in New Delhi on Sunday. The special court has allowed the application of the agency for the issuance of NBWs against Modi and Choksi who had repeatedly refused to join the investigation in the scam, considered the biggest in the banking history of the country, the officials said. The agency had written to Modi and Choksi to join probe on their official e-mail ids but they have refused to join it citing business engagements and health issues. The issuance of NBWs by a court also opens door of seeking Red Corner Notices against both of the accused from the Interpol. The government has claimed to have tracked Modi in Hong Kong where it has sent a request for his provisional arrest. The CBI, in the meanwhile, is questioning officials of overseas branches of Indian banks which had extended credit facilities to the companies of Modi and Choksi on the basis of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) issued by the Punjab National Bank’s Brady House branch in Mumbai. The agency has also summoned the official who handled foreign exchange transactions in the Hong Kong branch of the Allahabad bank, they said, adding that he may join the probe soon. It is alleged that the LoUs and LCs worth close to $2 billion were issued to the companies of the uncle-nephew duo of Choksi and Modi from the Brady Road branch of the bank through SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) messages. Several bank employees have been booked for collusion in the case, they said. The LoU is a guarantee which is given by an issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant a short-term credit to the applicant. In case of default, the bank issuing the LoU has to pay the liability to the credit giving bank along with accruing interest. These messages were allegedly not entered in the banking software of the PNB to bypass surveillance. Modi (46), a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with his wife, brother and Choksi for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB. Both Choksi and Modi have been booked in two cases each related to the bank fraud. The uncle-nephew duo had managed to flee the country in the first week of January days before the PNB was able to detect the fraud. The bank officials also fraudulently issued foreign letters of credit or FLCs in which the PNB guaranteed payment on behalf of the accused to their suppliers which was to be recovered from the firms of Choksi and Nirav Modi, they alleged. Funds raised through LoUs were meant to be used for the payment of import bills of the accused companies whereas it was dishonesty and fraudulently utilised for discharging the earlier liabilities on account of buyer’s credit facilities in a kind of roll over of payments, they alleged. The PNB has alleged in its complaint that they opened the Letters of Credit initially for smaller amounts by creating purported entries in the core banking system, they said. The accused bank officials pursuant to the conspiracy unauthorisedly enhanced the values of the FLCs and issued amendments to the FLCs issued through SWIFT which were encashed in overseas branches of Indian banks. According to the RBI guidelines, LoUs for gems should not be valid for more than 90 days. The CBI had approached the Interpol with a request for issuing ‘Diffusion Notice’ which was aimed at locating an individual.

PNB scam: Non-bailable warrants issued against Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi on CBI plea

A non-bailable warrant has been issued against Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi in the multi-billion dollar PNB scam. According to reports, a special CBI court in Mumbai court allowed CBI's application for issuing a non-bailable warrant against both the accused.&nbsp;

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday questioned a former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank, HR Khan, in connection with alleged Punjab National Bank fraud case worth Rs 12,600 crores (1.9 billion) and relaxation of gold import policy by the erstwhile UPA government, sources said today.

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/worst-behind-us-will-be-out-of-nirav-modi-mess-in-6-months-pnb-md--129125">&nbsp;Worst behind us, will be out of Nirav Modi mess in 6 months: PNB MD</a>

The CBI&nbsp;recently questioned three Chief General Managers and one General Manager of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), officials said.

Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi have been accused of defrauding banks by raising loans from overseas branches of Indian lenders using Rs 12,600 crores of fraudulent guarantees issued by rogue Punjab National Bank staff at a Mumbai branch.

The fraud, which is being investigated by the CBI and other enforcement agencies, is the biggest in the country's banking history.&nbsp;

The CBI recently questioned three Chief General Managers and one General Manager of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

A non-bailable warrant has been issued against Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi in the multi-billion dollar PNB scam. According to reports, a special CBI court in Mumbai court allowed CBI's application for issuing a non-bailable warrant against both the accused. The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday questioned a former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank, HR Khan, in connection with alleged Punjab National Bank fraud case worth Rs 12,600 crores (1.9 billion) and relaxation of gold import policy by the erstwhile UPA government, sources said today. Also read: Worst behind us, will be out of Nirav Modi mess in 6 months: PNB MD The CBI recently questioned three Chief General Managers and one General Manager of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), officials said. Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi have been accused of defrauding banks by raising loans from overseas branches of Indian lenders using Rs 12,600 crores of fraudulent guarantees issued by rogue Punjab National Bank staff at a Mumbai branch. The fraud, which is being investigated by the CBI and other enforcement agencies, is the biggest in the country's banking history.

PNB scam: CBI issues non-bailable warrant against Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi

Gitanjali Gems Chairman and Managing Director Mehul Choksi, who is a co-accused in multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam on Tuesday said that &#39;exaggerated allegations by multiple investigating agencies have left him completely defenceless and that he feared for his safety to return home.&#39;

&quot;I further inform that requiring me to join the investigation, though leaving me helpless and information less, by various actions taken by multiple agencies is unfair. The manner in which the allegations have been exaggerated has left me completely defenceless,&quot; he said in a statement.

Choksi further said he was unable to travel to India due to his persisting health condition.

&quot;I am extremely held up in my business abroad and am working hard to resolves the issues it is facing due to the unnecessary closure of the business in India due to untenable allegations. Further, I am unable to travel to India due to my persisting health condition,&quot; Choksi said.

Hitting out at media, he said it was blowing every issue out of proportion.

&quot;I reiterate that I am abroad and have earlier also responded to your notices. Surprisingly, the issues raised remain unaddressed, making my fear of safety rise to extreme levels. Media continues to conduct a trial by itself and blow every issue out of proportion,&quot; he stated.

Clarifying that he was not making any excuse to travel to India, Choksi claimed that his passport is suspended.

&quot;Regional Passport Office (RPO) has not communicated with me and my passport remains suspended. I have the deepest respect for your offices and assure you that I am not making any excuse, whatsoever to travel to India,&quot; he added.

According to the sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the passports of Choksi and diamantaire Nirav Modi, his nephew, has been revoked, as they have failed to respond to the MEA&#39;s show cause notice.

Modi and Choksi, who had acquired letter of undertakings (LoUs) to avail credit from various sources, are wanted in India for their alleged involvement in syphoning off money from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) to the tune of more than US $ 1.8 billion.

The scam, allegedly started in 2011, was unearthed last month, after which the PNB officials reported it to the concerned agencies.&nbsp;

Modi and Choksi are wanted in India for their alleged involvement in syphoning off money from the Punjab National Bank

Gitanjali Gems Chairman and Managing Director Mehul Choksi, who is a co-accused in multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam on Tuesday said that 'exaggerated allegations by multiple investigating agencies have left him completely defenceless and that he feared for his safety to return home.' "I further inform that requiring me to join the investigation, though leaving me helpless and information less, by various actions taken by multiple agencies is unfair. The manner in which the allegations have been exaggerated has left me completely defenceless," he said in a statement. Choksi further said he was unable to travel to India due to his persisting health condition. "I am extremely held up in my business abroad and am working hard to resolves the issues it is facing due to the unnecessary closure of the business in India due to untenable allegations. Further, I am unable to travel to India due to my persisting health condition," Choksi said. Hitting out at media, he said it was blowing every issue out of proportion. "I reiterate that I am abroad and have earlier also responded to your notices. Surprisingly, the issues raised remain unaddressed, making my fear of safety rise to extreme levels. Media continues to conduct a trial by itself and blow every issue out of proportion," he stated. Clarifying that he was not making any excuse to travel to India, Choksi claimed that his passport is suspended. "Regional Passport Office (RPO) has not communicated with me and my passport remains suspended. I have the deepest respect for your offices and assure you that I am not making any excuse, whatsoever to travel to India," he added. According to the sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the passports of Choksi and diamantaire Nirav Modi, his nephew, has been revoked, as they have failed to respond to the MEA's show cause notice. Modi and Choksi, who had acquired letter of undertakings (LoUs) to avail credit from various sources, are wanted in India for their alleged involvement in syphoning off money from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) to the tune of more than US $ 1.8 billion. The scam, allegedly started in 2011, was unearthed last month, after which the PNB officials reported it to the concerned agencies.

Exaggerated allegations left me defenceless: Mehul Choksi

Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi has written to the CBI in reply to the notice the investigating agency had sent him.&nbsp;

In his reply, Choksi has said he is &quot;not making any excuse whatsoever to travel to India&quot;.&nbsp;

The CBI had earlier said that Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi, who has become the face of the Rs 14,000 crore PNB scam, are refusing to cooperate with it in its investigation into the scam.&nbsp;

&quot;Regional Passport Office hasn&#39;t communicated with me and my passport remains suspended. I have deepest respect for your offices and assure you that I am not making any excuse, whatsoever, to travel to India,&quot; Choksi wrote to the CBI.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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I reiterate that I am abroad &amp; have earlier also responded to your notices. Surprisingly, the issues raised remain unaddressed, making my fear of safety rise to extreme levels. Media continues to conduct a trial by itself &amp; blow every issue out of proportion: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MehulChoksi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MehulChoksi</a> to CBI
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975943998203420672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;I further inform that requiring me to join investigation, though leaving me helpless and information-less, by various actions taken by multiple agencies is unfair. The manner in which the allegations have been exaggerated has left me completely defenceless,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

He did however also add that he will not yet be travelling to India.&nbsp;

&quot;I am extremely held up in my business abroad and am working hard to resolves the issues it is facing due to the unnecessary closure of business in India due to untenable allegations. Further I am unable to travel to India due to my persisting health condition,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The fugitive diamond merchant however added that he will not yet be travelling to India

Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi has written to the CBI in reply to the notice the investigating agency had sent him. In his reply, Choksi has said he is "not making any excuse whatsoever to travel to India". The CBI had earlier said that Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi, who has become the face of the Rs 14,000 crore PNB scam, are refusing to cooperate with it in its investigation into the scam. "Regional Passport Office hasn't communicated with me and my passport remains suspended. I have deepest respect for your offices and assure you that I am not making any excuse, whatsoever, to travel to India," Choksi wrote to the CBI. I reiterate that I am abroad & have earlier also responded to your notices. Surprisingly, the issues raised remain unaddressed, making my fear of safety rise to extreme levels. Media continues to conduct a trial by itself & blow every issue out of proportion: #MehulChoksi to CBI — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 × "I further inform that requiring me to join investigation, though leaving me helpless and information-less, by various actions taken by multiple agencies is unfair. The manner in which the allegations have been exaggerated has left me completely defenceless," he added. He did however also add that he will not yet be travelling to India. "I am extremely held up in my business abroad and am working hard to resolves the issues it is facing due to the unnecessary closure of business in India due to untenable allegations. Further I am unable to travel to India due to my persisting health condition," he added.

Not making any excuse whatsoever to travel to India: Mehul Choksi to CBI

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today provisinally attached a power plant and 134 acres of land belonging to billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, key accused in the over&nbsp;Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.

The profits emanating from the solar power plant will go to the government coffers.

The ED, which has provisionally attached the land, and can attach the land only after the adjudicating authority confirms the attachment of the land.

The attachment can take upto six months to be confirmed. Till then, the ED cannot take any legal step.

Farmers had also tried to capture the 134 acres of land, alleging that Nirav Modi had bought the land at a low price.

Last month, the ED attached 21 properties of the Nirav Modi group, including flats and farmhouses, worth over Rs 523 crore.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that the firms controlled by Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi had obtained <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-fallout-rbi-discontinues-letters-of-undertaking-35694">fraudulent letters of understanding</a> (LoUs) and letters of credit (LCs), worth over 13,000 crore from the PNB in connivance with some officials of the bank.

The profits emanating from the solar power plant will go in the government coffers

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today provisinally attached a power plant and 134 acres of land belonging to billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, key accused in the over Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. The profits emanating from the solar power plant will go to the government coffers. The ED, which has provisionally attached the land, and can attach the land only after the adjudicating authority confirms the attachment of the land. The attachment can take upto six months to be confirmed. Till then, the ED cannot take any legal step. Farmers had also tried to capture the 134 acres of land, alleging that Nirav Modi had bought the land at a low price. Last month, the ED attached 21 properties of the Nirav Modi group, including flats and farmhouses, worth over Rs 523 crore. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that the firms controlled by Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi had obtained fraudulent letters of understanding (LoUs) and letters of credit (LCs), worth over 13,000 crore from the PNB in connivance with some officials of the bank.

PNB scam: ED attaches  134-acre Nirav Modi solar power plant

F<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mehul-choksi-refuses-to-appear-in-front-of-cbi-on-health-grounds-35086" target="_blank">ugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi </a>has refused to appear in front of the CBI.

He wrote them a letter, blaming health problems for his inability to travel.

Here is the full text of his letter to the investigating agency.&nbsp;

Dear Sir, 
Please refer to the notice in the captioned FIR, sent by you seeking my appearance before your good office on 07.03.2018 at 10.30 AM which has been received by me on my E-mail as I am travelling.

I wish to bring to your kind attention that your good self and your office is well aware that my passport has been suspended as the same was communicated to you vide my previous reply also.

As you have, in your letter dated 28.02.2018, have stated that &lsquo;it is not clear whether you have responded to the Notice of the Passport Authorities to their satisfaction for getting the suspension revoked.&rsquo;, I bring to your notice that on 16.02.2018, I received an email from the Passport Office which stated that my Passport has been suspended due to the reason &lsquo;Security Threat to India&rsquo;. On 28.02.2018, I sent an e-mail to the Regional Passport Office, Mumbai, requesting them to revoke the suspension of my Passport, however, I have not received any reply from the Regional Passport Office.

I want to assure your good office and good self that I am in no manner dictating the terms of my appearance. However, as my Passport stands suspended by the Regional Passport Office under Section 10(3)(c) of the Passport Act, it is impossible for me to travel back to India. I further wish to point out that the Regional Passport Office Mumbai has not given me any explanation as to why my Passport has been suspended and as to how I am a Security Threat to India. This goes to show that my Passport has been suspended in a manner which violates my Constitutional Rights.

In my last communication to your good self, I had expressed my apprehension and concern for my family&rsquo;s and my safety. I further wish to bring to your attention that I am being threatened by individuals with whom I have a business relationship. As there has been a complete and sudden closure of business, my employees, customers, creditors etc have started to show their animosity towards me.

I am concerned about my health and well-being. In case I am arrested, then I would not be able to get proper health care and would be provided treatment only in a government hospital. I would be further denied treatment in a private hospital. Even though right to receive proper medical treatment is provided in the Constitution of India, however, in practicality a person accused of an offence who is behind prison is denied a doctor of his own choice.

Furthermore, the various Political Parties in India have been politicizing the issue with a view to glorify their own interests. The entire reports being published in newspapers, various statements made by members of various political parties and the trial by media has therefore left me remediless and therefore a bias has been caused against me.

The different media reports portray as if I have already been convicted by the Hon&rsquo;ble Courts of India. They have caused great prejudice to my fundamental rights enshrined by the Constitution of India. Right to life and right to fair trail are quintessential fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The various news reports and publications against me violate those rights. I have got a sense from the different reports and publication that there is great unfairness which is prevalent against me and I would not get a fair treatment and a fair trial. There is presumption of innocence in favour of every person until he is proved guilty. This fundamental principle has been ignored by the media which is evident from their various reports.

The media is conducting a trial by itself and is blowing each and every issue out of proportion and is exaggerating allegations and this has left me completely defenseless, especially as my Passport has been suspended, without due process.

Multiple investigating agencies are after my life and the Central Bureau of Investigation has seized my office servers and I have no record of my business dealings. I am further being deprived of my basic right to communicate and the seizure of my servers have effectively denied me my fundamental right to defend myself against the allegations that have been leveled against me. I wish to bring to your notice and attention that I have been rendered defenseless. All the documents that were lying in my offices have been seized by the Investigating Agencies. I have also not been supplied with any copies of those documents.

My properties, both moveable and immovable, have been seized and/or attached by multiple investigating agencies. The investigating agencies have sealed my existing showrooms and have further seized the stock which was lying in the showrooms and have termed the same as &ldquo;proceeds of crime&rdquo;. Despite these seizures, CBI has not placed on judicial record the Seizure Memo as per the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The Investigating Agencies cannot in any way infringe the fundamental right to silence as enshrined under the Indian Constitution. It is well settled that an investigating agency cannot adopt measures to get information by unfair means and cannot force a person to accede to their requests in giving them the desired answers.

CBI in this matter has seized documents from various places during investigation in the matter. Even though under Section 102 CrPC the police officer has power to seize property which may be alleged or suspected to have been stolen, or which may be found under circumstances which create suspicion of the commission of any offence, the submission of a seizure report is a mandatory requirement of Section 102 CrPC. It is necessary that the requirement of Section 102 CrPC be complied with by CBI.

There has been a gross abuse of process of law by the Investigating Agencies. The seizure of my movable/immovable properties, bank accounts and shutting down of all my offices in India has caused prejudice against me. It is in the interest of justice that I be granted an opportunity to have a free and fair trial, however, the investigating agencies are acting with a pre-determined mind which is hampering the process of law and interfering with the course of justice.

It has been held by the Hon&rsquo;ble Supreme Court that an Investigating Officer must conduct a fair and proper investigation to bring out the real truth. It is imperative that the Investigating Officer must not act as Prosecution in order to have the accused convicted by the Hon&rsquo;ble Courts.

I am deeply affected by the media and Investigating Agencies as they have also roped in my family members with a view to prejudice me. The media and investigating agencies are aware that they can harass me if my family members can be connected to the cases filed against me.

I have been called a &lsquo;fugitive&rsquo; many a times and I would like to inform your good offices that I had travelled abroad for my business, prior to the registration of the captioned FIR and this is no manner can mean that my travel abroad was a direct result of the registration of the captioned FIR. Further, the searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate are contrary to the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The unfairness of the investigation is apparent as my family members have been roped in without any justification and the moreover the allegations leveled against Mr. Nirav Modi are different.

The unfair manner in which the investigation is being carried out is evident from the fact that you good self had directed me to approach the Embassy for a temporary travel document, knowing fully well that under no provision of law, a direction can be issued to me to go to an Embassy.

I am suffering from extreme mental agony due to the above aspects raised. The notice has been issued directing me to appear on 07.03.2018 at 10:30 AM without even considering the above mentioned factors.

I am also not in a position to travel due to my persisting health problem. I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same. The entire procedure could not be completed on all veins due to danger to kidney and therefore I am not allowed to travel for at least a period of four to six months.

I reiterate that I am continuing to work outside India and considering the difficulties my business has faced due to the unfairness of the investigating agencies, it is requested to your good self to communicate with me on mail ... (email deleted) or my Advocate ... (name and number of advocate deleted) in respect of any issues which you consider is needed to be addressed to me concerning the investigation.

 
Regards, 
Mehul Choksi

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Citing health troubles, Choksi has said he cannot appear before the CBI for questioning

Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has refused to appear in front of the CBI. He wrote them a letter, blaming health problems for his inability to travel. Here is the full text of his letter to the investigating agency. Dear Sir, Please refer to the notice in the captioned FIR, sent by you seeking my appearance before your good office on 07.03.2018 at 10.30 AM which has been received by me on my E-mail as I am travelling. I wish to bring to your kind attention that your good self and your office is well aware that my passport has been suspended as the same was communicated to you vide my previous reply also. As you have, in your letter dated 28.02.2018, have stated that ‘it is not clear whether you have responded to the Notice of the Passport Authorities to their satisfaction for getting the suspension revoked.’, I bring to your notice that on 16.02.2018, I received an email from the Passport Office which stated that my Passport has been suspended due to the reason ‘Security Threat to India’. On 28.02.2018, I sent an e-mail to the Regional Passport Office, Mumbai, requesting them to revoke the suspension of my Passport, however, I have not received any reply from the Regional Passport Office. I want to assure your good office and good self that I am in no manner dictating the terms of my appearance. However, as my Passport stands suspended by the Regional Passport Office under Section 10(3)(c) of the Passport Act, it is impossible for me to travel back to India. I further wish to point out that the Regional Passport Office Mumbai has not given me any explanation as to why my Passport has been suspended and as to how I am a Security Threat to India. This goes to show that my Passport has been suspended in a manner which violates my Constitutional Rights. In my last communication to your good self, I had expressed my apprehension and concern for my family’s and my safety. I further wish to bring to your attention that I am being threatened by individuals with whom I have a business relationship. As there has been a complete and sudden closure of business, my employees, customers, creditors etc have started to show their animosity towards me. I am concerned about my health and well-being. In case I am arrested, then I would not be able to get proper health care and would be provided treatment only in a government hospital. I would be further denied treatment in a private hospital. Even though right to receive proper medical treatment is provided in the Constitution of India, however, in practicality a person accused of an offence who is behind prison is denied a doctor of his own choice. Furthermore, the various Political Parties in India have been politicizing the issue with a view to glorify their own interests. The entire reports being published in newspapers, various statements made by members of various political parties and the trial by media has therefore left me remediless and therefore a bias has been caused against me. The different media reports portray as if I have already been convicted by the Hon’ble Courts of India. They have caused great prejudice to my fundamental rights enshrined by the Constitution of India. Right to life and right to fair trail are quintessential fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The various news reports and publications against me violate those rights. I have got a sense from the different reports and publication that there is great unfairness which is prevalent against me and I would not get a fair treatment and a fair trial. There is presumption of innocence in favour of every person until he is proved guilty. This fundamental principle has been ignored by the media which is evident from their various reports. The media is conducting a trial by itself and is blowing each and every issue out of proportion and is exaggerating allegations and this has left me completely defenseless, especially as my Passport has been suspended, without due process. Multiple investigating agencies are after my life and the Central Bureau of Investigation has seized my office servers and I have no record of my business dealings. I am further being deprived of my basic right to communicate and the seizure of my servers have effectively denied me my fundamental right to defend myself against the allegations that have been leveled against me. I wish to bring to your notice and attention that I have been rendered defenseless. All the documents that were lying in my offices have been seized by the Investigating Agencies. I have also not been supplied with any copies of those documents. My properties, both moveable and immovable, have been seized and/or attached by multiple investigating agencies. The investigating agencies have sealed my existing showrooms and have further seized the stock which was lying in the showrooms and have termed the same as “proceeds of crime”. Despite these seizures, CBI has not placed on judicial record the Seizure Memo as per the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Investigating Agencies cannot in any way infringe the fundamental right to silence as enshrined under the Indian Constitution. It is well settled that an investigating agency cannot adopt measures to get information by unfair means and cannot force a person to accede to their requests in giving them the desired answers. CBI in this matter has seized documents from various places during investigation in the matter. Even though under Section 102 CrPC the police officer has power to seize property which may be alleged or suspected to have been stolen, or which may be found under circumstances which create suspicion of the commission of any offence, the submission of a seizure report is a mandatory requirement of Section 102 CrPC. It is necessary that the requirement of Section 102 CrPC be complied with by CBI. There has been a gross abuse of process of law by the Investigating Agencies. The seizure of my movable/immovable properties, bank accounts and shutting down of all my offices in India has caused prejudice against me. It is in the interest of justice that I be granted an opportunity to have a free and fair trial, however, the investigating agencies are acting with a pre-determined mind which is hampering the process of law and interfering with the course of justice. It has been held by the Hon’ble Supreme Court that an Investigating Officer must conduct a fair and proper investigation to bring out the real truth. It is imperative that the Investigating Officer must not act as Prosecution in order to have the accused convicted by the Hon’ble Courts. I am deeply affected by the media and Investigating Agencies as they have also roped in my family members with a view to prejudice me. The media and investigating agencies are aware that they can harass me if my family members can be connected to the cases filed against me. I have been called a ‘fugitive’ many a times and I would like to inform your good offices that I had travelled abroad for my business, prior to the registration of the captioned FIR and this is no manner can mean that my travel abroad was a direct result of the registration of the captioned FIR. Further, the searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate are contrary to the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure. The unfairness of the investigation is apparent as my family members have been roped in without any justification and the moreover the allegations leveled against Mr. Nirav Modi are different. The unfair manner in which the investigation is being carried out is evident from the fact that you good self had directed me to approach the Embassy for a temporary travel document, knowing fully well that under no provision of law, a direction can be issued to me to go to an Embassy. I am suffering from extreme mental agony due to the above aspects raised. The notice has been issued directing me to appear on 07.03.2018 at 10:30 AM without even considering the above mentioned factors. I am also not in a position to travel due to my persisting health problem. I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same. The entire procedure could not be completed on all veins due to danger to kidney and therefore I am not allowed to travel for at least a period of four to six months. I reiterate that I am continuing to work outside India and considering the difficulties my business has faced due to the unfairness of the investigating agencies, it is requested to your good self to communicate with me on mail ... (email deleted) or my Advocate ... (name and number of advocate deleted) in respect of any issues which you consider is needed to be addressed to me concerning the investigation. Regards, Mehul Choksi

If arrested, will only get treatment in government hospital: Read full text of Mehul Choksi's letter to CBI

Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi refused to appear in front of investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on health grounds.

In a letter to CBI, he stated that he could not travel due to the health problem.&nbsp;

&#39;&#39;I&#39;m&nbsp;not in a position to travel due to my persisting health problem. I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same,&#39;&#39; he stated in his written reply to the CBI.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PNBScam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PNBScam</a> accused <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MehulChoksi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MehulChoksi</a>&#39;s reply to CBI: I am also not in a position to travel due to my persisting health problem. I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/971642498480132097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Choksi has also asked &#39;&#39;how he is a security threat to India&#39;&#39;.&nbsp;

&#39;&#39;As my Passport stands suspended. I further wish to point out that the RPO Mumbai has not given me any explanation as to why my Passport has been suspended and as to how I am a security threat to India,&#39;&#39; he noted in his response.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PNBScam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PNBScam</a> accused <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MehulChoksi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MehulChoksi</a>&#39;s reply to CBI: As my Passport stands suspended. I further wish to point out that the RPO Mumbai has not given me any explanation as to why my Passport has been suspended and as to how I am a security threat to India.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/971642495774818304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Stating that various media reports have media of reports have tarnished his image, he said right to life and right to fair trial are quintessential&nbsp;fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. &#39;&#39;The various news&nbsp;reports and&nbsp;publications against me violate those rights. I have got a&nbsp;sense from the different reports and publication that there is great&nbsp;unfairness which is prevalent against me and I would not get a fair&nbsp;treatment and a fair trial,&#39;&#39; he stated&nbsp;in his reply.

The media is conducting a trial by itself and is blowing each and&nbsp;every issue out of proportion and is exaggerating allegations and&nbsp;this has left me completely defenceless, especially as my Passport&nbsp;has been suspended, without due process, he noted.&nbsp;

&#39;I had expressed my&nbsp;apprehension for my family&rsquo;s and my safety. I wish to bring to your attention that I am being threatened by&nbsp;individuals with whom I have a business relationship.&nbsp;As there has been a complete and sudden closure of business, my employees,&nbsp;customers, creditors etc have started to show their animosity&nbsp;towards me,&#39;&#39; he stated in the letter.&nbsp;

He also said that he was concerned about his health and well-being and added that in case he was arrested, he would not be able to get proper health care and would be provided treatment only in a Government Hospital. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

'I'm not in a position to travel due to my persisting health problem. I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same,' Choksi said in his reply to the CBI

Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi refused to appear in front of investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on health grounds. In a letter to CBI, he stated that he could not travel due to the health problem. ''I'm not in a position to travel due to my persisting health problem. I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same,'' he stated in his written reply to the CBI. #PNBScam accused #MehulChoksi's reply to CBI: I am also not in a position to travel due to my persisting health problem. I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same. — ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2018 × Choksi has also asked ''how he is a security threat to India''. ''As my Passport stands suspended. I further wish to point out that the RPO Mumbai has not given me any explanation as to why my Passport has been suspended and as to how I am a security threat to India,'' he noted in his response. #PNBScam accused #MehulChoksi's reply to CBI: As my Passport stands suspended. I further wish to point out that the RPO Mumbai has not given me any explanation as to why my Passport has been suspended and as to how I am a security threat to India. — ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2018 × Stating that various media reports have media of reports have tarnished his image, he said right to life and right to fair trial are quintessential fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. ''The various news reports and publications against me violate those rights. I have got a sense from the different reports and publication that there is great unfairness which is prevalent against me and I would not get a fair treatment and a fair trial,'' he stated in his reply. The media is conducting a trial by itself and is blowing each and every issue out of proportion and is exaggerating allegations and this has left me completely defenceless, especially as my Passport has been suspended, without due process, he noted. 'I had expressed my apprehension for my family’s and my safety. I wish to bring to your attention that I am being threatened by individuals with whom I have a business relationship. As there has been a complete and sudden closure of business, my employees, customers, creditors etc have started to show their animosity towards me,'' he stated in the letter. He also said that he was concerned about his health and well-being and added that in case he was arrested, he would not be able to get proper health care and would be provided treatment only in a Government Hospital.

Mehul Choksi refuses to appear in front of CBI on health grounds, asks how he is security threat to India

The Central Bureau of Investigation has cleared that they do not believe the claims presented by&nbsp;fugitive Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi.

They also said that they have asked the two to disclose their locations, however, they have not disclosed it yet.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Both <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MehulChoksi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MehulChoksi</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NiravModi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NiravModi</a> have been asked to disclose their locations but they haven&rsquo;t disclosed yet. CBI is not believing the excuses being given by both of them: CBI
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/971715970019610624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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CBI registers a fresh case against two firms of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NiravModi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NiravModi</a>. <a href="https://t.co/owq8xGdFzt">pic.twitter.com/owq8xGdFzt</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/971713381320351747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The CBI&#39;s clarification came after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mehul-choksi-refuses-to-appear-in-front-of-cbi-on-health-grounds-35086" target="_blank">Choksi sent a letter</a> to the investigating agency refusing to appear in front of the agency.&nbsp;

He said &#39;&#39;I&#39;m&nbsp;not in a position to travel due to my persisting health problem. I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same&quot;.

Earlier Nirav Modi had also written a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/full-text-of-nirav-modis-letter-to-pnb-33448" target="_blank">letter to the Punjab National Bank</a> stating his incapability to pay back the loan amount. He also blamed the bank for defaming his brand.&nbsp;

CBI also said that they have asked the two to disclose their locations, however, they have not disclosed it yet

The Central Bureau of Investigation has cleared that they do not believe the claims presented by fugitive Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi. They also said that they have asked the two to disclose their locations, however, they have not disclosed it yet. Both #MehulChoksi and #NiravModi have been asked to disclose their locations but they haven’t disclosed yet. CBI is not believing the excuses being given by both of them: CBI — ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2018 × CBI registers a fresh case against two firms of #NiravModi. pic.twitter.com/owq8xGdFzt — ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2018 × The CBI's clarification came after Choksi sent a letter to the investigating agency refusing to appear in front of the agency. He said ''I'm not in a position to travel due to my persisting health problem. I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same". Earlier Nirav Modi had also written a letter to the Punjab National Bank stating his incapability to pay back the loan amount. He also blamed the bank for defaming his brand.

Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi not disclosing location, we do not believe their 'excuses': CBI

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-speaks-to-andhra-cm-chandrababu-naidu-after-he-orders-two-tdp-ministers-to-quit-modis-cabinet-35109" target="_blank">Modi speaks to Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu, 2 TDP ministers quit Union Cabinet</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu Thursday evening.&nbsp;The two TDP ministers in Modi&#39;s cabinet &mdash; Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary &mdash; later met with the prime minister and tendered their resignations to him.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-government-approves-state-flag-to-seek-approval-from-centre-35106" target="_blank">Karnataka unveils state flag, to seek approval from Centre</a>

The Karnataka&#39;s Siddaramaiah government unveiled an official state flag on Thursday.&nbsp;The flag or Naada Dwaja with red, white and yellow colours have state emblem &ldquo;Ganda Bherunda&rdquo;, a two-headed mythical bird in the middle.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-love-jihad-case-supreme-court-restores-hadiyas-marriage-strikes-down-high-court-order-35101" target="_blank">Kerala &#39;love jihad&#39; case: Supreme Court restores Hadiya&#39;s marriage, strikes down </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-love-jihad-case-supreme-court-restores-hadiyas-marriage-strikes-down-high-court-order-35101" target="_blank">high</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-love-jihad-case-supreme-court-restores-hadiyas-marriage-strikes-down-high-court-order-35101" target="_blank"> court order</a>

In a relief to Kerala-based Hadiya, an alleged victim of love jihad, the Supreme Court today set aside the high court order annulling her marriage to a Muslim man. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, however, said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may continue its investigation in the matter.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mehul-choksi-refuses-to-appear-in-front-of-cbi-on-health-grounds-35086" target="_blank">Mehul Choksi refuses to appear in front of CBI on health grounds, asks how he is </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mehul-choksi-refuses-to-appear-in-front-of-cbi-on-health-grounds-35086" target="_blank">security</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mehul-choksi-refuses-to-appear-in-front-of-cbi-on-health-grounds-35086" target="_blank"> threat to India</a>

Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi refused to appear in front of investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on health grounds. In a letter to CBI, he stated that he could not travel due to the health problem.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/curfew-in-sri-lankan-tourist-town-of-kandy-to-be-temporarily-lifted-35060" target="_blank">Curfew in Sri Lankan tourist town of Kandy to be temporarily lifted</a>

A curfew in the Sri Lankan town of Kandy will be temporarily lifted on Thursday, authorities said, following days of violence against members of the minority Muslim community by Buddhists.

&nbsp;

Modi speaks to Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu, 2 TDP ministers quit Union Cabinet Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu Thursday evening. The two TDP ministers in Modi's cabinet — Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary — later met with the prime minister and tendered their resignations to him. Karnataka unveils state flag, to seek approval from Centre The Karnataka's Siddaramaiah government unveiled an official state flag on Thursday. The flag or Naada Dwaja with red, white and yellow colours have state emblem “Ganda Bherunda”, a two-headed mythical bird in the middle. Kerala 'love jihad' case: Supreme Court restores Hadiya's marriage, strikes down high court order In a relief to Kerala-based Hadiya, an alleged victim of love jihad, the Supreme Court today set aside the high court order annulling her marriage to a Muslim man. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, however, said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may continue its investigation in the matter. Mehul Choksi refuses to appear in front of CBI on health grounds, asks how he is security threat to India Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi refused to appear in front of investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on health grounds. In a letter to CBI, he stated that he could not travel due to the health problem. Curfew in Sri Lankan tourist town of Kandy to be temporarily lifted A curfew in the Sri Lankan town of Kandy will be temporarily lifted on Thursday, authorities said, following days of violence against members of the minority Muslim community by Buddhists.

WION Evening News Brief, March 8, 2018

The extent of the unraveling fraud at India&#39;s state-run Punjab National Bank could rise beyond the nearly $2 billion mark so far outlined by the lender, according to a source involved in the probe and court documents.

The source, who asked not to be named, said investigators had not yet recovered all the papers and loan guarantees allegedly issued by rogue employees of the bank, and consequently believed the bank&#39;s exposure could be greater than revealed so far.

In what has been dubbed as the biggest fraud in India&#39;s banking history, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and police have accused two jewelry groups - one controlled by diamond tycoon Nirav Modi and the other by his uncle Mehul Choksi - of colluding with bank employees to get credit from overseas banks using fraudulent guarantees.

Both Choksi and Modi have denied the allegations and lawyers for the two key accused PNB employees in the case have also said they are innocent.

According to court filings, the exposure to three companies controlled by Modi has been estimated at 64.98 billion rupees ($999 million), while firms controlled by Choksi have been accused of defrauding the bank of 61.38 billion rupees.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has told a Mumbai court that the amount involving Modi&#39;s companies was likely to go up, according to the source and court filings, copies of which have been reviewed.

The CBI told the court that its investigation had found that the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs), or guarantees, through a Mumbai branch of the bank had been going on since 2010.

In papers filed on Monday, the CBI also said PNB did not have all the documents related to the LoUs, since those were returned to the borrower.

&quot;Most of these documents are not yet recovered. The size of the fraud has now gone (up)...and the same is likely to go even higher,&quot; the CBI said in the court filing.

PNB did not respond to requests on Tuesday seeking comment on the risk of its exposure rising further.

The bank initially reported to authorities on January 29 that the jewelry groups had defrauded it of 2.8 billion rupees, or about $44 million. On February 14 it said the fraud sum had reached $1.77 billion after a detailed investigation.

It raised the amount further to nearly $2 billion last week, saying it had discovered some $200 million more in fraudulent letters of credit, another form of credit guarantee, issued to Choksi&#39;s Gitanjali group. 
&nbsp;

"Most of these documents are not yet recovered. The size of the fraud has now gone (up)...and the same is likely to go even higher," the CBI said in the court filing

The extent of the unraveling fraud at India's state-run Punjab National Bank could rise beyond the nearly $2 billion mark so far outlined by the lender, according to a source involved in the probe and court documents. The source, who asked not to be named, said investigators had not yet recovered all the papers and loan guarantees allegedly issued by rogue employees of the bank, and consequently believed the bank's exposure could be greater than revealed so far. In what has been dubbed as the biggest fraud in India's banking history, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and police have accused two jewelry groups - one controlled by diamond tycoon Nirav Modi and the other by his uncle Mehul Choksi - of colluding with bank employees to get credit from overseas banks using fraudulent guarantees. Both Choksi and Modi have denied the allegations and lawyers for the two key accused PNB employees in the case have also said they are innocent. According to court filings, the exposure to three companies controlled by Modi has been estimated at 64.98 billion rupees ($999 million), while firms controlled by Choksi have been accused of defrauding the bank of 61.38 billion rupees. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has told a Mumbai court that the amount involving Modi's companies was likely to go up, according to the source and court filings, copies of which have been reviewed. The CBI told the court that its investigation had found that the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs), or guarantees, through a Mumbai branch of the bank had been going on since 2010. In papers filed on Monday, the CBI also said PNB did not have all the documents related to the LoUs, since those were returned to the borrower. "Most of these documents are not yet recovered. The size of the fraud has now gone (up)...and the same is likely to go even higher," the CBI said in the court filing. PNB did not respond to requests on Tuesday seeking comment on the risk of its exposure rising further. The bank initially reported to authorities on January 29 that the jewelry groups had defrauded it of 2.8 billion rupees, or about $44 million. On February 14 it said the fraud sum had reached $1.77 billion after a detailed investigation. It raised the amount further to nearly $2 billion last week, saying it had discovered some $200 million more in fraudulent letters of credit, another form of credit guarantee, issued to Choksi's Gitanjali group.

PNB bank fraud likely to swell beyond $2 billion mark

The Special CBI court in Mumbai has sent Vipul Ambani President (Finance) of Nirav Modi&#39;s Fire Star Diamond and 5 other accused Kavita Makikar, Arjun Patil, Rajesh Jindal, Kapil Khandelwal and Nitin Shahi to judicial custody for 14 days.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The six arrested in February by the CBI&nbsp;will remain in Judicial custody till March 19.&nbsp;

The CBI in its interrogation also revealed that the Vipul Ambani had complete knowledge of fraudulent and illegal Letter of Undertakings taken by Nirav Modi.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PNBFraudCase?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PNBFraudCase</a>: Vipul Ambani, President (Finance) of Nirav Modi&#39;s Fire Star Diamond and 5 other accused - Kavita Mankikar, Arjun Patil, Rajesh Jindal, Kapil Khandelwal &amp; Niten Shahi sent to Judicial Custody till 19th March by Special CBI Court, Mumbai
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/970604776873488384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Whereas the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-cbi-arrests-4-more-officials-of-modi-choksi-companies-34675" target="_blank"> four accused who were arrested Sunday</a> have&nbsp;been sent to judicial custody for 12 days.&nbsp;

Manish Bosamiya, Miten Pandya, Sanjay Rambhia and Aniyath Shiv Raman Nair will remain in judicial custody till March 17.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PNBFraudCase?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PNBFraudCase</a>: Four accused- Manish Bosamiya, Miten Pandya, Sanjay Rambhia &amp; Aniyath Shiv Raman Nair, arrested yesterday, sent to police custody till 17 March by Special CBI Court, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/970625581778792448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The CBI also questioned Punjab National Bank&#39;s General Manager Treasury, SK Chand in connection with the Fraud case.&nbsp;

The agency has yet to track down Modi and Choksi, who left India in January before the fraud came to light. Both have issued statements denying the CBI&rsquo;s charges.

Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, owner of Gitanjali gems, are accused of securing unauthorised loans using fraudulent LoUs from the PNB.

They are suspected of colluding with bank officials at PNB to obtain unauthorised loans over a six-year period starting in 2011.&nbsp;

The Special CBI court in Mumbai has sent Vipul Ambani President (Finance) of Nirav Modi's Fire Star Diamond and 5 other accused Kavita Makikar, Arjun Patil, Rajesh Jindal, Kapil Khandelwal and Nitin Shahi to judicial custody for 14 days

The Special CBI court in Mumbai has sent Vipul Ambani President (Finance) of Nirav Modi's Fire Star Diamond and 5 other accused Kavita Makikar, Arjun Patil, Rajesh Jindal, Kapil Khandelwal and Nitin Shahi to judicial custody for 14 days. The six arrested in February by the CBI will remain in Judicial custody till March 19. The CBI in its interrogation also revealed that the Vipul Ambani had complete knowledge of fraudulent and illegal Letter of Undertakings taken by Nirav Modi. #PNBFraudCase: Vipul Ambani, President (Finance) of Nirav Modi's Fire Star Diamond and 5 other accused - Kavita Mankikar, Arjun Patil, Rajesh Jindal, Kapil Khandelwal & Niten Shahi sent to Judicial Custody till 19th March by Special CBI Court, Mumbai — ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2018 × Whereas the four accused who were arrested Sunday have been sent to judicial custody for 12 days. Manish Bosamiya, Miten Pandya, Sanjay Rambhia and Aniyath Shiv Raman Nair will remain in judicial custody till March 17. #PNBFraudCase: Four accused- Manish Bosamiya, Miten Pandya, Sanjay Rambhia & Aniyath Shiv Raman Nair, arrested yesterday, sent to police custody till 17 March by Special CBI Court, #Mumbai — ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2018 × The CBI also questioned Punjab National Bank's General Manager Treasury, SK Chand in connection with the Fraud case. The agency has yet to track down Modi and Choksi, who left India in January before the fraud came to light. Both have issued statements denying the CBI’s charges. Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, owner of Gitanjali gems, are accused of securing unauthorised loans using fraudulent LoUs from the PNB. They are suspected of colluding with bank officials at PNB to obtain unauthorised loans over a six-year period starting in 2011.

PNB Fraud: CBI sends 10 people to judicial custody

The second part of the Budget session resumes today with both houses of Parliament meeting after a month-long break.

The Opposition parties are likely to corner the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on the Rs 12,636 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam involving celebrity jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi.

The government&#39;s priorities are likely to be the passage of the triple talaq bill andd the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union cabinet had approved the proposal to introduce the offenders bill 2018 in the Parliament on March 1.

The purpose of the bill is to confiscate the assets of a fugitive, including Benami assets.

The Parliament will also take up a discussion on the Union budget, which was tabled in the first half of the session, and pass it.

The government has listed a few bills for consideration and passage in both Houses.

In the Lok Sabha, it intends to bring The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017, and The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017, on March 5, and The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017, on March 6.

In the Rajya Sabha, the government has listed The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017, and The State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017, for the first day of the session.

(With inputs from ANI)

 
&nbsp;

The government's priorities are likely to be the passage of the triple talaq bill and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill

The second part of the Budget session resumes today with both houses of Parliament meeting after a month-long break. The Opposition parties are likely to corner the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on the Rs 12,636 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam involving celebrity jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi. The government's priorities are likely to be the passage of the triple talaq bill andd the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union cabinet had approved the proposal to introduce the offenders bill 2018 in the Parliament on March 1. The purpose of the bill is to confiscate the assets of a fugitive, including Benami assets. The Parliament will also take up a discussion on the Union budget, which was tabled in the first half of the session, and pass it. The government has listed a few bills for consideration and passage in both Houses. In the Lok Sabha, it intends to bring The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017, and The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017, on March 5, and The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017, on March 6. In the Rajya Sabha, the government has listed The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017, and The State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017, for the first day of the session. (With inputs from ANI)

Budget Session to resume in Parliament from today

The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) on Sunday arrested four more people in the&nbsp;alleged Rs 12,636-crore fraud case at the Punjab National Bank (PNB) by billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi.

The CBI said it had arrested two former employees of the Nirav Modi-owned Firestar International -- Manish Bosamiya and Miten Pandya.

The former Firestar employees were arrested on suspicion of fabricating paperwork for the fraud, the CBI said.

Bosamiya, the then AGM (operations) of Firestarter International, and then Finance Manager Miten Anil Pandya allegedly prepared applications for fraudulent Letters of Undertakings submitted to Punjab National Bank, officials said.

An auditor, Sampat Rambhia, was also arrested, as was Aniyath Shiv Raman, a former director of the Mehul Choksi-owned Gili India. The CBI alleges he was the authorised signatory for the applications submitted to PNB for issuance of purported letters of undertaking (LoUs) and foreign letters of credit (FLCs). Also read -&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-fraud-cbi-says-nirav-modi-gave-gold-bribes-34614">PNB fraud: CBI says Nirav Modi gave gold bribes</a>

More than a dozen people have been arrested by the CBI since the fraud at PNB, the country&#39;s second-biggest lender, came to light in January.

The agency has yet to track down Modi and Choksi, who left India in January before the fraud came to light. Both have issued statements denying the CBI&rsquo;s charges.

Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, owner of Gitanjali gems, are accused of securing unauthorised loans using fraudulent LoUs from the PNB.

They are suspected of colluding with bank officials at PNB to obtain unauthorised loans over a six-year period starting in 2011.&nbsp;

The accused officials of the PNB did not enter the instructions for these LoUs and FLCs in their internal software to avoid scrutiny.

They were sent through an international messaging system for banking called SWIFT, which is used to pass instructions among banks globally to transfer funds.

The PNB officials allegedly sent these messages to Indian banks -- Canara Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of India, Axis Bank, Allahabad bank -- located in Antwerp, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Mauritius, Frankfurt without making 
entries in the banking software about the LoUs.

Upon receiving the messages from PNB under SWIFT, the banks abroad transferred these amounts into NOSTRO account of PNB with them.

Nostro account is an account that a bank holds in a foreign currency in another bank to enable foreign trade by its clients.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

More than a dozen people have been arrested by the CBI since the fraud at PNB, the country's second-biggest lender, came to light in January

The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) on Sunday arrested four more people in the alleged Rs 12,636-crore fraud case at the Punjab National Bank (PNB) by billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi. The CBI said it had arrested two former employees of the Nirav Modi-owned Firestar International -- Manish Bosamiya and Miten Pandya. The former Firestar employees were arrested on suspicion of fabricating paperwork for the fraud, the CBI said. Bosamiya, the then AGM (operations) of Firestarter International, and then Finance Manager Miten Anil Pandya allegedly prepared applications for fraudulent Letters of Undertakings submitted to Punjab National Bank, officials said. An auditor, Sampat Rambhia, was also arrested, as was Aniyath Shiv Raman, a former director of the Mehul Choksi-owned Gili India. The CBI alleges he was the authorised signatory for the applications submitted to PNB for issuance of purported letters of undertaking (LoUs) and foreign letters of credit (FLCs). Also read - PNB fraud: CBI says Nirav Modi gave gold bribes More than a dozen people have been arrested by the CBI since the fraud at PNB, the country's second-biggest lender, came to light in January. The agency has yet to track down Modi and Choksi, who left India in January before the fraud came to light. Both have issued statements denying the CBI’s charges. Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, owner of Gitanjali gems, are accused of securing unauthorised loans using fraudulent LoUs from the PNB. They are suspected of colluding with bank officials at PNB to obtain unauthorised loans over a six-year period starting in 2011. The accused officials of the PNB did not enter the instructions for these LoUs and FLCs in their internal software to avoid scrutiny. They were sent through an international messaging system for banking called SWIFT, which is used to pass instructions among banks globally to transfer funds. The PNB officials allegedly sent these messages to Indian banks -- Canara Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of India, Axis Bank, Allahabad bank -- located in Antwerp, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Mauritius, Frankfurt without making entries in the banking software about the LoUs. Upon receiving the messages from PNB under SWIFT, the banks abroad transferred these amounts into NOSTRO account of PNB with them. Nostro account is an account that a bank holds in a foreign currency in another bank to enable foreign trade by its clients. (With inputs from agencies)

PNB scam: CBI arrests 4 more officials of Modi, Choksi companies

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chidambaram-helpedmehul-choksiin2014-ravi-shankar-prasad-34759">Chidambaram helped Mehul Choksi in 2014: Ravi Shankar Prasad</a>

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the Congress saying that the entire banking system was out of control under the leadership of Economist Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-hikes-defence-budget-to-175-billion-three-times-that-of-indias-34743">China increases </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-hikes-defence-budget-to-175-billion-three-times-that-of-indias-34743">defence</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-hikes-defence-budget-to-175-billion-three-times-that-of-indias-34743"> budget to $175 billion, three times higher than India&#39;s</a>

China today announced a 8.1 per cent hike in its defence expenditure for this year to a whopping $175 billion, which is over three times higher than India&#39;s defence budget as it seeks to further advance an ambitious modernisation drive for its military.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-imposes-curfew-after-anti-muslim-riots-34765">Sri Lanka imposes curfew after anti-Muslim riots</a>

Sri Lanka imposed a curfew Monday in a central hill station town popular with tourists after days of communal unrest that saw a man killed and Muslim businesses set alight.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/italy-faces-political-gridlock-after-5-star-surges-34756">Italy faces political gridlock after 5-Star surges</a>

Italy faces a prolonged period of political instability after voters delivered a hung parliament on Sunday, spurning traditional parties and flocking to anti-establishment and far-right groups in record numbers.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-to-contest-2018-general-elections-from-karachi-34763">Imran Khan to contest 2018 general elections from Karachi</a>

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan on Monday announced he would contest the upcoming general election from Karachi.

Chidambaram helped Mehul Choksi in 2014: Ravi Shankar Prasad Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the Congress saying that the entire banking system was out of control under the leadership of Economist Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. China increases defence budget to $175 billion, three times higher than India's China today announced a 8.1 per cent hike in its defence expenditure for this year to a whopping $175 billion, which is over three times higher than India's defence budget as it seeks to further advance an ambitious modernisation drive for its military. Sri Lanka imposes curfew after anti-Muslim riots Sri Lanka imposed a curfew Monday in a central hill station town popular with tourists after days of communal unrest that saw a man killed and Muslim businesses set alight. Italy faces political gridlock after 5-Star surges Italy faces a prolonged period of political instability after voters delivered a hung parliament on Sunday, spurning traditional parties and flocking to anti-establishment and far-right groups in record numbers. Imran Khan to contest 2018 general elections from Karachi Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan on Monday announced he would contest the upcoming general election from Karachi.

WION Evening News brief, March 8, 2018

An official of Punjab National Bank received gold and diamond jewellery from billionaire jeweller <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-my-fate-was-pre-determined-says-nirav-modi-34566">Nirav Modi</a> accused of being involved in a $2 billion bank fraud, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)told a court on Saturday.

The state lender in January uncovered the alleged fraud in which several bank officials were suspected of colluding with jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi to issue fraudulent letters of undertakings (LoUs), for their companies to raise loans from overseas branches of mostly Indian banks.

The CBI, which has arrested 14 people in the case, on Saturday for the first time said bribes were paid to at least one Punjab National Bank (PNB) official by Modi.

The agency told the court that Yashwant Joshi, who worked as a manager in the forex department of the Mumbai branch that is at the centre of the fraud, admitted to having received two gold coins weighing 60 grams and a pair of gold and diamond earrings from Modi.

The articles have been recovered from Joshi&#39;s house in the presence of independent witnesses, the CBI said.

&quot;This indicates that he was in collusion with the beneficiary accused persons to cheat the bank,&quot; CBI Inspector D. Damodaran said in a court filing. &quot;He also obtained illegal gratification from the beneficiary party for continuing issuance of fraudulent LoUs.&quot;

Joshi, who was committed to judicial custody by the Mumbai court along with four other PNB officials and an associate of Modi, could not be contacted for comment.

Modi and Choksi, who owns Gitanjali Gems Ltd, left India before the fraud came to light, but have said in letters and statements they were innocent.

PNB, the country&#39;s second-biggest state lender, has mainly accused two low-level employees of the Brady House branch of issuing the LoUs without making corresponding entries in the bank&#39;s main software, helping the fraud to go undetected for years.

The CBI, however, has expanded its investigation and arrested two internal auditors of the branch, among others.

Separately, TV channels reported that another Mumbai court on Saturday issued non-bailable warrants against Modi and Choksi following an appeal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), an agency focused on foreign exchange and money laundering offences.

&quot;Modi appears to be the prima donna in the whole saga of the fraud perpetrated on the PNB,&quot; the directorate said in a filing to the court seen by Reuters.

&quot;The case involves a circuitous web of routes created by the said Modi and in such circumstances, the fraudulent transactions appear to be in the personal knowledge and exclusive domain of Nirav Modi&quot;.

Modi has yet to be tracked by the authorities, but the ED said &quot;reportedly, Modi is presently in Hong Kong&quot;. The agency has already seized various properties of Modi and Choksi, as banks assess the hit to them from the fraud.

State Bank of India and two other state-run banks, Union Bank of India and Allahabad Bank, are lenders who had extended credit based on the LoUs issued by PNB that were later found to be fraudulent. Allahabad Bank said on Saturday it had a $366.87 million exposure to the case.

An official of Punjab National Bank received gold and diamond jewellery from billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi accused of being involved in a $2 billion bank fraud, the CBI told a court on Saturday

An official of Punjab National Bank received gold and diamond jewellery from billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi accused of being involved in a $2 billion bank fraud, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)told a court on Saturday. The state lender in January uncovered the alleged fraud in which several bank officials were suspected of colluding with jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi to issue fraudulent letters of undertakings (LoUs), for their companies to raise loans from overseas branches of mostly Indian banks. The CBI, which has arrested 14 people in the case, on Saturday for the first time said bribes were paid to at least one Punjab National Bank (PNB) official by Modi. The agency told the court that Yashwant Joshi, who worked as a manager in the forex department of the Mumbai branch that is at the centre of the fraud, admitted to having received two gold coins weighing 60 grams and a pair of gold and diamond earrings from Modi. The articles have been recovered from Joshi's house in the presence of independent witnesses, the CBI said. "This indicates that he was in collusion with the beneficiary accused persons to cheat the bank," CBI Inspector D. Damodaran said in a court filing. "He also obtained illegal gratification from the beneficiary party for continuing issuance of fraudulent LoUs." Joshi, who was committed to judicial custody by the Mumbai court along with four other PNB officials and an associate of Modi, could not be contacted for comment. Modi and Choksi, who owns Gitanjali Gems Ltd, left India before the fraud came to light, but have said in letters and statements they were innocent. PNB, the country's second-biggest state lender, has mainly accused two low-level employees of the Brady House branch of issuing the LoUs without making corresponding entries in the bank's main software, helping the fraud to go undetected for years. The CBI, however, has expanded its investigation and arrested two internal auditors of the branch, among others. Separately, TV channels reported that another Mumbai court on Saturday issued non-bailable warrants against Modi and Choksi following an appeal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), an agency focused on foreign exchange and money laundering offences. "Modi appears to be the prima donna in the whole saga of the fraud perpetrated on the PNB," the directorate said in a filing to the court seen by Reuters. "The case involves a circuitous web of routes created by the said Modi and in such circumstances, the fraudulent transactions appear to be in the personal knowledge and exclusive domain of Nirav Modi". Modi has yet to be tracked by the authorities, but the ED said "reportedly, Modi is presently in Hong Kong". The agency has already seized various properties of Modi and Choksi, as banks assess the hit to them from the fraud. State Bank of India and two other state-run banks, Union Bank of India and Allahabad Bank, are lenders who had extended credit based on the LoUs issued by PNB that were later found to be fraudulent. Allahabad Bank said on Saturday it had a $366.87 million exposure to the case.

PNB fraud: CBI says Nirav Modi gave gold bribes 

Amid the investigation by various probe agencies in Punjab National Bank scam case, accused Nirav Modi sent an email to Enforcement Directorate to ask about the reasons for suspending his passport.

&quot;Passport authority suspended my passport. Meanwhile, you asked me to join probe . Wrote to Passport authority requesting it to provide me reasons of suspension &amp; proposed revocation. Surprisingly, within minutes of my reply ,authority revoked my passport&quot;.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-cannot-confirm-nirav-modi-is-here-says-us-34468">Cannot confirm Nirav Modi is here, says&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-cannot-confirm-nirav-modi-is-here-says-us-34468">US</a>

He accused system for&nbsp;disregarding the law and said that his&nbsp;&#39;&#39;fate was already decided&quot;.

&#39;&#39;The lightning speed in which the authority has acted clearly shows that the action itself was pre-determined. My fate was already decided&#39;&#39;.

Nirav Modi also stated reasons for not cooperating with the probe in India; he said that he is still &#39;&#39;working abroad and engaged in trying to deal with businesses.&#39;&#39;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-fraud-internal-chief-auditor-of-punjab-national-bank-arrested-34-more-bank-accounts-of-gitanjali-group-attached-34366">PNB&#39;s Internal Chief Auditor arrested, 34 more bank accounts of Gitanjali Group attached</a>

&#39;&#39;Still working abroad as I continue to be very engaged in trying to deal with businesses that I am involved with outside of India. Trying to ensure that so far as possible the position of these business creditors(including banks)&amp; employees are properly considered&#39;&#39;.

Nirav Modi and and Mehul Choksir are being investigated by probe agencies after Punjab National Bank filed a complaint of fraudulent transactions of&nbsp;Rs 12,000 crores occurred&nbsp;through acquiring fake letters of undertaking.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-have-businesses-abroad-so-i-cant-join-investigations-nirav-modi-replies-to-cbis-mail-34348">We have businesses abroad so I can&#39;t join investigations says Nirav Modi to CBI&#39;s mail</a>

They allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) were taken&nbsp;from its the banks Brady House branch in Mumbai&nbsp;for overseas credit from other lenders.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have registered two FIRs each in this case.

A special Prevention of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-special-pmla-court-issues-non-bailable-warrant-against-nirav-modi-and-mehul-choksi-34551">Money Laundering (PMLA) Court in Mumbai has also issued a non-bailable warrant </a>against Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi on Saturday.

Amid the investigation by various probe agencies in Punjab National Bank scam case, accused Nirav Modi sent an email to Enforcement Directorate to ask about the reasons for suspending his passport

Amid the investigation by various probe agencies in Punjab National Bank scam case, accused Nirav Modi sent an email to Enforcement Directorate to ask about the reasons for suspending his passport. "Passport authority suspended my passport. Meanwhile, you asked me to join probe . Wrote to Passport authority requesting it to provide me reasons of suspension & proposed revocation. Surprisingly, within minutes of my reply ,authority revoked my passport". Also read: Cannot confirm Nirav Modi is here, says US He accused system for disregarding the law and said that his ''fate was already decided". ''The lightning speed in which the authority has acted clearly shows that the action itself was pre-determined. My fate was already decided''. Nirav Modi also stated reasons for not cooperating with the probe in India; he said that he is still ''working abroad and engaged in trying to deal with businesses.'' Also read: PNB's Internal Chief Auditor arrested, 34 more bank accounts of Gitanjali Group attached ''Still working abroad as I continue to be very engaged in trying to deal with businesses that I am involved with outside of India. Trying to ensure that so far as possible the position of these business creditors(including banks)& employees are properly considered''. Nirav Modi and and Mehul Choksir are being investigated by probe agencies after Punjab National Bank filed a complaint of fraudulent transactions of Rs 12,000 crores occurred through acquiring fake letters of undertaking. Also read: We have businesses abroad so I can't join investigations says Nirav Modi to CBI's mail They allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) were taken from its the banks Brady House branch in Mumbai for overseas credit from other lenders. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have registered two FIRs each in this case. A special Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Court in Mumbai has also issued a non-bailable warrant against Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi on Saturday.

PNB scam: 'My fate was pre-determined' says Nirav Modi

The United States government is aware of media reports that diamond jeweller Nirav Modi is in the country but is unable to confirm them, a State Department official said today.

&quot;We are aware of recent media reports that Nirav Modi is in the United States but cannot confirm them,&quot; the spokesperson told PTI when asked about reports that the Indian businessman is in New York.

Asked if the department is providing any assistance to the Indian government in tracing Modi, the spokesperson said, &quot;We refer you to the Department of Justice for questions on legal assistance to the Indian authorities in relation to their investigation of Mr. Modi&quot;.

The Department of Justice declined to comment on Modi.

Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies following a complaint by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of over Rs 12,000 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.

They allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from its Brady House branch in Fort area for overseas credit from other lenders.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have registered two FIRs each in this case.

Modi, his family, and Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, left the country in early January, much before the CBI received a complaint from the PNB.

On being asked by the CBI to join its investigation into the alleged fraud, Modi refused, saying he has &quot;business abroad&quot;.

The CBI then directed him to contact the embassy of India in a country where he is staying so that his travel to India can be arranged.

A Look Out Circular (LoC), also known as a blue corner notice, has already been issued against Modi and Choksi to keep a tab on their entry at all land, air and sea ports in India.&nbsp;

'We are aware of recent media reports that Nirav Modi is in the United States but cannot confirm them,' a State Department spokesperson said

The United States government is aware of media reports that diamond jeweller Nirav Modi is in the country but is unable to confirm them, a State Department official said today. "We are aware of recent media reports that Nirav Modi is in the United States but cannot confirm them," the spokesperson told PTI when asked about reports that the Indian businessman is in New York. Asked if the department is providing any assistance to the Indian government in tracing Modi, the spokesperson said, "We refer you to the Department of Justice for questions on legal assistance to the Indian authorities in relation to their investigation of Mr. Modi". The Department of Justice declined to comment on Modi. Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies following a complaint by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of over Rs 12,000 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank. They allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from its Brady House branch in Fort area for overseas credit from other lenders. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have registered two FIRs each in this case. Modi, his family, and Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, left the country in early January, much before the CBI received a complaint from the PNB. On being asked by the CBI to join its investigation into the alleged fraud, Modi refused, saying he has "business abroad". The CBI then directed him to contact the embassy of India in a country where he is staying so that his travel to India can be arranged. A Look Out Circular (LoC), also known as a blue corner notice, has already been issued against Modi and Choksi to keep a tab on their entry at all land, air and sea ports in India.

PNB scam: Cannot confirm Nirav Modi is here, says US

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday attached 41 properties of Mehul Choksi of the Gitanjali Group, worth Rs 1,217 crore, in connection with an ongoing probe into the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case.

The central probe agency issued a provisional order for attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).&nbsp;

The attached assets include 15 flats and 17 office premises in Mumbai, a mall in Kolkata, a four-acre farmhouse in Alibaug and 231 acres of land at locations like Nasik, Nagpur, Panvel and Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;

A 170-acre park in Hyderabad&#39;s Ranga Reddy district valued at over Rs 500 crore has also been attached, it said.&nbsp;

Four flats in Borivali (east) area of the Maharashtra capital and nine others in Khemu Towers in Santacruz (east) have been attached as part of the action.&nbsp;

&quot;The total value of the 41 seized assets controlled by Choksi has estimated at Rs 1,217.2 crore,&quot; the ED said.&nbsp;

Mr. Choksi and designer diamond jewellery businessman Nirav Modi and others are being investigated by the ED and other probe agencies after the bank fraud recently came to light, following a complaint by the PNB that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.

The CBI and the ED have registered two FIRs each to probe the case. Both Mr Choksi and Mr Modi are said to have left the country before criminal cases were lodged against them. They have, however, denied any wrongdoing.

The ED, a central probe agency under the union finance ministry, is investigating if the allegedly defrauded bank funds were laundered and proceeds of crime were subsequently used by the accused to create illegal assets and black money.

(With inputs from PTI)

The CBI, which is also part of the investigation, had registered an FIR against Choksi for allegedly defrauding Punjab National Bank of over Rs 6,100 crore

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday attached 41 properties of Mehul Choksi of the Gitanjali Group, worth Rs 1,217 crore, in connection with an ongoing probe into the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. The central probe agency issued a provisional order for attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The attached assets include 15 flats and 17 office premises in Mumbai, a mall in Kolkata, a four-acre farmhouse in Alibaug and 231 acres of land at locations like Nasik, Nagpur, Panvel and Villupuram in Tamil Nadu. A 170-acre park in Hyderabad's Ranga Reddy district valued at over Rs 500 crore has also been attached, it said. Four flats in Borivali (east) area of the Maharashtra capital and nine others in Khemu Towers in Santacruz (east) have been attached as part of the action. "The total value of the 41 seized assets controlled by Choksi has estimated at Rs 1,217.2 crore," the ED said. Mr. Choksi and designer diamond jewellery businessman Nirav Modi and others are being investigated by the ED and other probe agencies after the bank fraud recently came to light, following a complaint by the PNB that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank. The CBI and the ED have registered two FIRs each to probe the case. Both Mr Choksi and Mr Modi are said to have left the country before criminal cases were lodged against them. They have, however, denied any wrongdoing. The ED, a central probe agency under the union finance ministry, is investigating if the allegedly defrauded bank funds were laundered and proceeds of crime were subsequently used by the accused to create illegal assets and black money. (With inputs from PTI)

PNB scam: ED attaches 41 properties worth Rs 1217.20 crore of Mehul Choksi

The CBI today arrested another senior executive of the Punjab National Bank and claimed to have recovered documents related to Letter of Undertaking from &#39;chawl&#39; as it continued its searches in connection with the USD 2 billion fraud.

Internal Chief Auditor (retd) Bishnubrata Mishra, who was responsible for concurrent audit for the period 2011-2015 at PNB Brady House branch, was arrested today, the agency said.

Mishra was responsible for auditing the procedures and practices followed in the PNB branch and report them.

Officials said 13 more people were questioned today in addition to the questioning of those who are in CBI custody.

They said the more searches were carried out after information surfaced during questioning of some arrested accused and others persons.

The documents were hidden in a small room of a &#39;chawl&#39; in Wadala, a central Mumbai suburb.

The premises is believed to be that of Nirav Modi (not in name of the company).

The billionaire jeweller has refused to join the probe citing his business engagements.

The CBI made the first arrest of an auditor of the bank when its internal chief auditor M K Sharma-- a chief manager-ranked official-- was picked up by the agency.

Sharma, a scale-IV officer, was responsible for auditing the systems and practices of the bank&#39;s Brady House branch--from Letters of Undertakings (LoUs) were issued-- and report the deficiencies with zonal audit office, they said.

Unfazed by Nirav Modi&#39;s reluctance to join the probe, the CBI, in a terse letter, &quot;directed&quot; him to approach the Indian mission in the country where he is residing so that immediate arrangement can be made for his travel to India, officials said.

The agency has told him that it is mandatory for an accused to join the investigation whenever they are asked to, they said.

The agency had earlier asked Modi on his official email id to join the investigation related to Rs 12,636 crore scam pertaining to the fraudulent issuance of the LoUs and Letters of Credit (LCs) from Brady House branch of PNB in Mumbai in favour of his and his uncle Mehul Choksi&#39;s companies, they said.

The quantum of the alleged fraud perpetrated in the bank by billionaire jewellers Modi and Choksi stands close to USD 2 billion after the teams of the CBI and PNB found fresh LoUs and LCs worth Rs 1,251 crore related to Choksi&#39;s Gitanjali group of companies.

The PNB had earlier put the defrauded amount at Rs 11,394.02 crore (USD 1.77 billion).

The LoU is a guarantee which is given by an issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant a short-term credit to the applicant. In case of default, the bank issuing the LoU has to pay the liability to credit giving bank along with accruing interest.

It is alleged that LoUs and LCs worth close to USD 2 billion were issued to the companies of uncle-nephew duo of Choksi and Modi from the Brady Road branch of the bank through SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) messages.

These messages were allegedly not entered in the banking software of the PNB to bypass surveillance.

Internal Chief Auditor, Bishnubrata Mishra, who was responsible for concurrent audit for the period 2011-2015 at PNB Brady House branch, was arrested today

The CBI today arrested another senior executive of the Punjab National Bank and claimed to have recovered documents related to Letter of Undertaking from 'chawl' as it continued its searches in connection with the USD 2 billion fraud. Internal Chief Auditor (retd) Bishnubrata Mishra, who was responsible for concurrent audit for the period 2011-2015 at PNB Brady House branch, was arrested today, the agency said. Mishra was responsible for auditing the procedures and practices followed in the PNB branch and report them. Officials said 13 more people were questioned today in addition to the questioning of those who are in CBI custody. They said the more searches were carried out after information surfaced during questioning of some arrested accused and others persons. The documents were hidden in a small room of a 'chawl' in Wadala, a central Mumbai suburb. The premises is believed to be that of Nirav Modi (not in name of the company). The billionaire jeweller has refused to join the probe citing his business engagements. The CBI made the first arrest of an auditor of the bank when its internal chief auditor M K Sharma-- a chief manager-ranked official-- was picked up by the agency. Sharma, a scale-IV officer, was responsible for auditing the systems and practices of the bank's Brady House branch--from Letters of Undertakings (LoUs) were issued-- and report the deficiencies with zonal audit office, they said. Unfazed by Nirav Modi's reluctance to join the probe, the CBI, in a terse letter, "directed" him to approach the Indian mission in the country where he is residing so that immediate arrangement can be made for his travel to India, officials said. The agency has told him that it is mandatory for an accused to join the investigation whenever they are asked to, they said. The agency had earlier asked Modi on his official email id to join the investigation related to Rs 12,636 crore scam pertaining to the fraudulent issuance of the LoUs and Letters of Credit (LCs) from Brady House branch of PNB in Mumbai in favour of his and his uncle Mehul Choksi's companies, they said. The quantum of the alleged fraud perpetrated in the bank by billionaire jewellers Modi and Choksi stands close to USD 2 billion after the teams of the CBI and PNB found fresh LoUs and LCs worth Rs 1,251 crore related to Choksi's Gitanjali group of companies. The PNB had earlier put the defrauded amount at Rs 11,394.02 crore (USD 1.77 billion). The LoU is a guarantee which is given by an issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant a short-term credit to the applicant. In case of default, the bank issuing the LoU has to pay the liability to credit giving bank along with accruing interest. It is alleged that LoUs and LCs worth close to USD 2 billion were issued to the companies of uncle-nephew duo of Choksi and Modi from the Brady Road branch of the bank through SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) messages. These messages were allegedly not entered in the banking software of the PNB to bypass surveillance.

PNB fraud: CBI recovers documents related to LoU from 'chawl'; arrests another executive

The Income Tax Department today attached diamantaire Nirav Modi&#39;s four immovable assets, including a farmhouse and a solar power plant, worth Rs 70 crore in connection with a tax evasion probe against him and his companies, officials said.

The department said it has also got issued a Look Out Circular (LoC), also known as a blue corner notice, against Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, to keep a tab on their entry at all land, air and sea ports in the country.

According to the officials, Modi&#39;s farmhouse in Alibaug, near Mumbai, valued at Rs 13 crore, the 5.24 MW solar power plant spread in 135 acres land in Karjat in Maharashtra&#39;s Ahmednagar district, along with two other properties, have been provisionally attached by the department.

&quot;The total value of these attached assets is Rs 70 crore,&quot; a senior official said.

The department also attached 34 bank accounts and fixed deposits, valued at Rs 1.45 crore, of the Gitanjali group.

Modi, Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after the Punjab National Bank (PNB) disclosed a fraud, valued at close to UDS 2 billion, wherein they allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from its Brady House branch in Fort area for overseas credit from other lenders.

Earlier this week, PNB had said the number of unauthorised transactions could go up by more than Rs 1,300 crore from the earlier estimate of Rs 11,400 crore.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have registered two FIRs each in this case.&nbsp;

The IT department said it has also got issued a Look Out Circular (LoC), also known as a blue corner notice, against Modi

The Income Tax Department today attached diamantaire Nirav Modi's four immovable assets, including a farmhouse and a solar power plant, worth Rs 70 crore in connection with a tax evasion probe against him and his companies, officials said. The department said it has also got issued a Look Out Circular (LoC), also known as a blue corner notice, against Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, to keep a tab on their entry at all land, air and sea ports in the country. According to the officials, Modi's farmhouse in Alibaug, near Mumbai, valued at Rs 13 crore, the 5.24 MW solar power plant spread in 135 acres land in Karjat in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, along with two other properties, have been provisionally attached by the department. "The total value of these attached assets is Rs 70 crore," a senior official said. The department also attached 34 bank accounts and fixed deposits, valued at Rs 1.45 crore, of the Gitanjali group. Modi, Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after the Punjab National Bank (PNB) disclosed a fraud, valued at close to UDS 2 billion, wherein they allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from its Brady House branch in Fort area for overseas credit from other lenders. Earlier this week, PNB had said the number of unauthorised transactions could go up by more than Rs 1,300 crore from the earlier estimate of Rs 11,400 crore. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have registered two FIRs each in this case.

I-T dept attaches 4 assets of Nirav Modi; look out circular issued

Diamantaire Nirav Modi, who figures at the centre of the Rs 11,400 crore mega PNB scam, has finally replied to the CBI&#39;s mail saying that he is unable to join the investigations owing to business abroad. He also denied any wrongdoing.&nbsp;

The CBI had written to Nirav Modi on his official email address asking him to join the investigations.

According to reports, the CBI wrote to Nirav Modi again asking him to contact the High Commission of the concerned country. The CBI also stated that it will arrange for his travel back to India.&nbsp;

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CBI on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NiravModi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NiravModi</a>: CBI wrote a mail to Nirav Modi on his official email address asking him to join the investigation. He replied, we have a businesses abroad so I can&#39;t join investigation. <a href="https://t.co/Ei9N67Vfg6">pic.twitter.com/Ei9N67Vfg6</a>
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The CBI has called out to Nirav Modi directing him to join the investigations next week.

Meanwhile, the Investigation bureau added that it did not know Modi&#39;s whereabouts. The agency earlier said he left India in January before the $2 billion fraud, which also involves a firm controlled by his uncle Mehul Choksi, came to light.

(With inputs from agencies)

CBI had written to Nirav Modi on his official email address asking him to join the investigation

Diamantaire Nirav Modi, who figures at the centre of the Rs 11,400 crore mega PNB scam, has finally replied to the CBI's mail saying that he is unable to join the investigations owing to business abroad. He also denied any wrongdoing. The CBI had written to Nirav Modi on his official email address asking him to join the investigations. According to reports, the CBI wrote to Nirav Modi again asking him to contact the High Commission of the concerned country. The CBI also stated that it will arrange for his travel back to India. CBI on #NiravModi: CBI wrote a mail to Nirav Modi on his official email address asking him to join the investigation. He replied, we have a businesses abroad so I can't join investigation. pic.twitter.com/Ei9N67Vfg6 — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2018 × The CBI has called out to Nirav Modi directing him to join the investigations next week. Meanwhile, the Investigation bureau added that it did not know Modi's whereabouts. The agency earlier said he left India in January before the $2 billion fraud, which also involves a firm controlled by his uncle Mehul Choksi, came to light. (With inputs from agencies)

We have businesses abroad so I can't join investigations: Nirav Modi replies to CBI's mail

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