ED ATTACHES NIRAV MODI’S ASSETS WORTH ₹637 CRORE
MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Monday it has attached assets worth ₹637 crore of fugitive jeweller Nirav Modi and his family in India and four other countries as part of its fresh action in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. The attachments include two apartments in New York, a flat in London, one in south Mumbai, and diamond-studded jewellery, among other things.
According to the agency, the two apartments in New York’s Central Park are worth ₹216 crore and registered in Nirav Modi’s name. The flat on Marylebone Road in London is worth ₹56.97 crore and Nirav Modi’s sister—Purvi Modi, a Belgian national—is the “beneficial owner”. The flat in south Mumbai, which is also in Purvi’s name, is worth ₹19.5 crore.
The agency also attached five overseas bank accounts, containing more than ₹278 crore, belonging to Nirav Modi, Purvi and others in the case. “During investigation, it was found that most of the money was transferred to these accounts after FIRs were filed in this scam,” the agency said. The agency added that bank balance of ₹44 crore, kept in an account in Singapore, in the name of a British Virgin Island-based firm has also been attached.
Among other attached assets, the ED has seized diamond jewellery worth ₹22.69 crore after getting them to India from Hong Kong in 23 shipments. During the probe, the ED found out that the jeweller had been shipped abroad and kept in a vault of a private company in Hong Kong on behalf of Nirav Modi.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Interpol, at the request of the CBI and ED, issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Nirav Modi’s trusted official, Aditya Nanavati. Nanavati used to head the operations of Firestar Diamond’s business in Hong Kong. Interpol has already issued a RCN against Nirav Modi, Purvi and others involved in the case.
Nirav Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi of Gitanjali Group and others are being probed after it came to light earlier this year that they had allegedly cheated PNB to the tune of over ₹13,000 crore.
THE ATTACHMENTS INCLUDE 2 FLATS IN NEW YORK, A FLAT IN LONDON AND ONE IN S. MUMBAI