PNB Scam: CBI issues non-bailable warrants against Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi

A special CBI court on April 8 issued non bailable warrant against diamond jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi of Gitanjali Group in the cases related to Punjab National Bank scam.

The special court allowed the CBI's application for the issuance of NBWs against Modi and Chowksi after the two turned down summons to join the investigation in the scam. The agency had written to Modi and Chowksi to join probe on their official e-mail ids but they have refused to join it, citing business engagements and health issues, reported The Times of India.

The CBI on Friday questioned the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) former Deputy Governor Harun Rashid Khan in connection with reported ₹13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud involving diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, an official said.

Modi reportedly left the country along with his family in the first week of January this year, weeks before the scam was reported to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

His wife Ami, a US citizen, reportedly left on January 6 and uncle Choksi on January 4.

The CBI in February had approached Interpol with a request for issuing a Diffusion Notice against Modi to locate him.

PNB has claimed in different complaints to the CBI that several Letters of Undertaking (LoUs)—issued by one bank to other banks, based on which foreign branches offer credit to buyers—were fraudulently issued by its officials in connivance with Modi and the other accused in the case causing huge losses to the bank.

With inputs from IANS