CBI to ask UK for Nirav Modi’s immediate arrest, confiscation of travel documents

The Central Bureau of Investigation is in touch with Interpol and UK authorities asking them to act on the red notice against the fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi. CBI will ask the Interpol UK to make sure he doesn’t flee from the UK. Earlier, K Home Secretary Sajid Javid has certified India’s extradition request of Nirav Modi. In what is considered as India’s biggest bank scam Nirav Modi is involved in Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. Under the India-UK Extradition Treaty arrangements, the paperwork is now with the District Judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London to issue an extradition warrant against Modi to be executed by Scotland Yard.

“Since his location is known now, the first step should be to arrest him as there is enough evidence of cheating, criminal conspiracy and money laundering against him which has been provided to the UK in the extradition request. His Indian passport has already been revoked which means the UK authorities need to confiscate whatever travel documents he currently uses,” Times of India quoted an officer as saying.

Nirav Modi is living openly in a lavish 8-million-pound apartment in London's West End and has started a new diamond business in Soho, according to a report published on a British daily The Telegraph on Saturday. Modi, the 48-year-old diamond tycoon is currently paying around 17,000 pounds a month for a three-bedroom flat occupying half of a floor of the landmark Centre Point tower block near Oxford street, the report added.

Taking to Twitter, the leading daily posted a video and interview with the alleged fugitive in the early hours of Saturday and captioned it as "Exclusive: Telegraph journalists tracked down Nirav Modi, the billionaire diamond tycoon who is a suspect for the biggest banking fraud in India's history".

In the 2 minutes-13-seconds-long video, Modi is fatter than before and can be seen sporting a handlebar moustache and wearing an Ostrich Hide jacket, estimated to cost around 10,000 pounds. However, during his video interview with the UK daily, Modi chose to remain tight-lipped while asked about various issues related to the infamous PNB fraud scam case. He ducked the journalists by saying, "Sorry, no comments".