Rs 11,000 crore fraud and an absconding billionaire

Raids conducted at home, showrooms and offices of super rich jeweller Nirav Modi

GN Bureau | February 15, 2018


#Punjab National Bank   #PNB Scam   #Nirav Modi  


Investigating agencies are looking for Nirav Modi, a billionaire jeweller, after Punjab National Bank reported a massive fraud of Rs 11,000 crore at a branch in Mumbai.

The story so far:


Nirav Modi is the founder of Firestar Diamond which has its footprints in London, New York, Las Vegas, Hawai, Singapore, Beijing and Macau.

What happened?

PNB informed the Bombay Stock Exchange on Wednesday of fraudulent transactions worth over Rs 11,000 crore in its south Mumbai branch.

Earlier on January 31, Modi, along with his wife Ami Modi, brother Nishal Modi and maternal uncle Mehul Choksi were booked by the CBI for allegedly cheating PNB of over Rs 280 crore in 2017.

So, what did sleuths do?

Nirav Modi's home, showrooms and offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Surat were searched by the Enforcement Directorate.

A dozen properties were searched, including Nirav Modi's home in Mumbai's Kurla, his jewellery boutique in Kala Ghoda, and showrooms in Chanakyapuri and Defence Colony in Delhi.

But, where is Nirav Modi?

Times Now referred to media reports that suggested the billionaire diamond trader fled from India before an FIR could be filed against him by the Punjab National Bank.

Is he the first super rich to flee?

No, there are others too. Vijay Mallya fled to London, Lalit Modi is in Britain, Deepak Talwar in UAE and Sanjay Bhandari reportedly fled through Nepal.

What does PNB say?

PNB chief Sunil Mehta assured that the bank was committed to clean and responsible banking. PNB will take full responsibility if investigations place the onus of the fraud on the bank, he said. The bank will conduct a forensic audit if the need arises, reported moneycontrol.com citing Mehta

What is the political reaction?


“Is it possible to believe that he or vijay mallya left the country without active connivance of BJP govt?,” tweeted Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “Guide to Looting India by Nirav MODI 1.   Hug PM Modi 2.  Be seen with him in DAVOS Use that clout to: A. Steal 12,000Cr B. Slip out of the country like Mallya, while the Govt looks the other way.”

 

Comments

 

Other News

India lost Rs 52,000 crore to cyber fraud in five years: DoT

India has lost more than Rs 52,000 crore to cyber fraud over the last five years, officials have revealed. Out of approximately 60 lakh cyber fraud complaints received, more  than 3,000 cases have been resolved and six cyber fraud setups have been busted.   On the occ

India must not wait for its own Ella

In many Indian cities, children learn to wear masks before they are old enough to understand why. That reality should alarm us far more than it does.   In 2020, nine-year-old Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah became the first person in the world to have air pollution officially recognized a

An ode to the cradle of humankind

The Alphabets of Africa: Poems By Abhay K. Vintage Classics, 280 pages, ₹499.00   Abhay K

Ahmedabad district railway network to be expanded

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej) – Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line project of Ministry of Railways with total cost of Rs. 20,667 crore (approx.). It will be Indian Railways 1st semi high-speed project

Indian Ocean more contested than ever: Western Naval Command Chief

The Indian Ocean is becoming increasingly contested and strategically significant as the Indo-Pacific emerges as the defining geopolitical theatre of the 21st century, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, has said.   Spe

Why the judiciary needs much more than four more judges

India has a particular form of governance theatre: the bold declaration that appears to be action but is actually a way of avoiding action. The Union Cabinet on May 5 approved a Bill to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38. The decision has been touted as a step toward judici


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter