Not aware of Nirav Modi seeking political asylum in UK, says government

The government was “not aware” of fugitive Nirav Modi seeking political asylum in the UK as stated by a media report, official sources said on Wednesday.

“We are not aware that he has asked political asylum in the UK. The UK has not informed us that he has sought political asylum in that country,” said a source.

Nirav Modi is wanted by the CBI in the $2 billion Punjab National Bank scam.

Following CBI request, the Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi, his brother Nishal Modi and his employee Subhash Parab. Nirav Modi may have visited the UK, France and Belgium in the past few weeks, according to reports.

Indian missions abroad have alerted local governments about the Interpol Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi, the sources said.

The Interpol has issued the Red Corner Notice (RCN) on the basis of charge sheet filed by the CBI in a special court in Mumbai and the arrest warrant issued by the judge special J C Jagdale there.

In its Red Corner Notice issued against a fugitive, the Interpol asks its 192 member countries to arrest or detain the person if spotted in their countries after which extradition or deportation proceedings can begin.

Nirav Modi along with his wife Ami Modi, a US citizen, brother Nishal Modi, a Belgian citizen, and uncle Mehul Choksi, all accused in the CBI FIRs in the case, had left the country in the first week of January, weeks before country’s biggest banking scam surfaced.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also written to several European countries seeking help in tracing Nirav Modi.

(With PTI inputs)