Request for extradition of Nirav Modi sent to UK government: MEA VK Singh

The government of India has sent the request for the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi to the UK authorities

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the Indian government has approached the UK authorities for the extradition of Nirav Modi.

He said that the request was sent to the High Commission of India in London.

The Enforcement Directorate has been probing two cases of money laundering against Nirav Modi and Choksi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI. 

In these cases, the ED had on May 24 and May 26 filed prosecution complaints or charge-sheets against Choksi and Nirav Modi. 

The court has taken cognisance of the charge-sheets and issued a non-bailable warrant against both of them. 

On the request of the ED and the CBI, the Interpol had earlier issued RCN against Nirav Modi.

The Antiguan authorities confirmed the presence of Mehul Choksi in Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, is in Antigua and Berbuda.

On July 11, the ED asked a special court in Mumbai to declare both diamond merchants -- Choksi and Nirav Modi -- as `fugitives` under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance 2018 because they had fled India a month before they were named in the fraud case on January 31