Nirav Modi is wanted in India in an alleged Rs. 13,000 crore bank fraud case.
Fugitive Billionaire Nirav Modi, wanted in India in an alleged Rs. 13,000 crore bank fraud case, has reportedly started a diamond business in London. British newspaper The Telegraph carried a two-minute clip of the fugitive diamond trader walking on a street in London's West End.
Slightly stockier and not easy to recognise, in a pink shirt topped with a $10,000 jacket and sporting a handlebar moustache, Nirav Modi continued to evade questions as he is pressed with questions regarding his extradition case in India.
Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are the prime accused in the Punjab National Bank scam. Mr Choksi hold a citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. Both left India in January last year before the PNB scam broke.
"Modi appears to have adopted a surprisingly nonchalant attitude to his fugitive status, walking his small dog each day between his apartment and the diamond company's office in a townhouse in Soho, just a few hundred yards from his Centre Point home," The Telegraph reported.
The newspaper, quoting government sources, reported that Mr Modi has been given a national insurance number - needed to legally work in the UK - and has been operating bank accounts online while being wanted by India. The report said it is not clear why was he given the national insurance number.
Government sources in India said attempts are on to bring him back. "Our message is clear. If you have committed fraud, you will be brought back to face justice. He is living like a refugee in London," a top government source told NDTV.
Here are the Highlights on political reactions/news after Nirav Modi spotted in London:
With Congress and other opposition parties questioning the Modi government's commitment in bringing Nirav Modi to India, the prime minister's party, the BJP, today reminded the opposition that the bank fraud took place when the Congress government was in power.
"Nirav Modi's fraud to cheat the banks started in 2011 when UPA government was in power. It was detected and exposed during the Modi government," it said.
In a series of tweets, the BJP listed action taken by the Modi government.
Government was already aware of Nirav Modi's presence in UK: MEA
The government was already aware of Nirav Modi's presence in the UK, and hence had sent an extradition to the European country. ...That's why we sent an extradition request to the UK. Just because he was spotted on the street does not mean you can bring him back immediately. There's a due process. We are waiting for the UK government to respond," the spokesperson said during a weekly briefing.
Timeline - Nirav Modi case
- January 2018: Nirav Modi flees India; CBI conducts raids at his residence following complaint by PNB
- February 15, 2018: Nirav Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi's passports revoked
- May 2018: CBI files first chargesheet
- July 2018: Interpol issues notice against Nirav Modi
- September 2018: India formally seeks extradition
- March 2019: Nirav Modi spotted in London
The Indian government is taking all possible measures to bring Nirav Modi, sources said.
"Attempts are on to bring Nirav Modi back. Our message is clear if you have committed a fraud, you will be brought back and face justice," they said.
Nirav Modi's bungalow, estimated to be worth Rs 100 Cr, was blown up yesterday
A sprawling sea-facing bungalow of the fugitive billionaire was demolished in India yesterday. The bungalow in Maharashtra's Alibaug, estimated to cost over Rs. 100 crore, was demolished with a huge quantity of explosives, a district administration officer said.
The 33,000 square foot luxurious bungalow is illegally build, violated coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms and the state's regulations as well, say authorities.
Nirav Modi, 48, is currently living in a three-bedroom flat occupying half of a floor of the landmark Centre Point tower block, where rent is estimated to cost 17,000 pounds a month, The Telegraph reported.
The Congress was among the opposition parties to react to the news. In a tweet, the party slammed the Centre for its "failure" to bring back the fugitive diamantaire to justice.
Niav Modi has started diamond business in London: Report
The diamond trader has started a business in a townhouse in Soho, The Telegraph reported.
"Modi appears to have adopted a surprisingly nonchalant attitude to his fugitive status, walking his small dog each day between his apartment and the diamond company's office in a townhouse in Soho, just a few hundred yards from his Centre Point home," The Telegraph reported.
Nirav Modi is prime accused in the Punjab National Bank scam
Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are the prime accused in the Punjab National Bank scam. Mr Choksi hold a citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. Both left India in January last year before the PNB scam broke.
The British newspaper in a report said Mr Modi has also started a new diamond business in Soho, part of the posh West End area in London.
In a two-minute clip shared by the newspaper, the billionaire, who is wanted in India in an alleged Rs. 13,000 crore bank fraud case, said "no comments" at least six times when pressed with questions from how long to he planned to stay in the UK to how much money he owed.
Nirav Modi was seen walking on a street in London's West End by a reporter of the British newspaper The Telegraph.