Awaiting response from Hong Kong on Nirav Modi: MEA

India on Thursday said it is awaiting a response from Hong Kong authorities on its request for a provisional order of arrest of diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in connection with PNB loan fraud.

Raveesh Kumar, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said India had requested the Hong Kong authorities to surrender Nirav Modi based on the extradition agreement for a surrender of fugitive offenders signed between the two sides in 1997.

“Our mission in Hong Kong has informed that the Department of Justice of Hong Kong is still examining our request for a provisional order of arrest of Nirav Modi. We are awaiting a response from the Hong Kong authorities,” Kumar told reporters. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha last week, V K Singh, Minister of State in the External Affairs, had said the request for the same was submitted to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on March 23.

Earlier this week, China said that Hong Kong could accede to India's request to arrest fugitive Indian diamond merchant Nirav Modi based on local laws and mutual judicial assistance agreements.

Asked whether the MEA has taken up the case of Mehul Choksi with the US, also wanted in the PNB fraud case along with Modi, Kumar said the ministry only comes into the picture after the location of any fugitive is ascertained.