A journalist associated with the British publication The Telegraph reportedly tracked down the fugitive businessman, the Rs 13,000 crore PNB scam accused Nirav Modi in London.
Exclusive: Telegraph journalists tracked down Nirav Modi, the billionaire diamond tycoon who is a suspect for the biggest banking fraud in India’s historyhttps://t.co/PpsjGeFEsy pic.twitter.com/v3dN5NotzQ
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 8, 2019
In the video, the journalist can be seen asking Nirav Modi pointed questions on whether he has applied for political asylum in England and for how long does he intend to stay in England. However, Modi just smiled and said “no comment” in response. Nirav Modi is further questioned that the government officials have informed that he has applied for political asylum and that he is a subject of extradition application. To that, too, Nirav Modi replied with a firm “no comment”.
According to The Telegraph video, Nirav Modi was wearing a jacket made out of ostrich hide, which would cost at least 10,000 GBP. He can then be seen getting in a car, presumably a cab, and going off.
As per the report, Nirav Modi is currently living in an 8 million GBP luxury apartment and has also started a new diamond business. The Telegraph reports that Nirav Modi walks down his dog from his flat to his ‘new office’. It is also believed that he has acquired a national insurance number and owing to it, can now operate online bank accounts in the UK. He is also believed to be in touch with wealth management companies based in West London which advice rich foreigners.
Yesterday, Nirav Modi’s posh bungalow in Alibaug was dynamited since it violated construction norms.
The absconding diamond tycoon has been facing troubles as the ED and the CBI has been in relentless pursuit of Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi after the 13,000 crore PNB scam was unearthed. Interpol has issued red corner notices for Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Purvi Modi and Nishal Modi, Nirav’s sister and brother respectively.
In India too, the ED had in May moved the special court in Mumbai requesting permission for ‘immediate confiscation’ of about 7000 crores worth assets of designer diamond jeweler Nirav Modi under the recently annunciated ‘Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance’.
The department has since then attached several of Nirav Modi’s properties and bank accounts worth thousands of crores.
