Nirav Modi in UK, confirms authorities; CBI moves extradition request

Absconding billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi who is the main accused in $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case is residing in the United Kingdom.

According to sources, the UK has confirmed the d presence of Nirav Modi in its territory. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also sent an extradition request to through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The CBI has also submitted a copy of Interpol Red Notice against him, requesting his immediate detention on that ground.

In July, the Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN), asking its 192 member countries to arrest or detain the person if spotted in their countries after which extradition or deportation proceedings can begin.

The Interpol has listed "money laundering charges," levelled by Enforcement Directorate (ED), in the RCN, they said.

Nirav Modi and Choksi are being investigated by the ED and the CBI after it was detected that they allegedly cheated PNB of more than Rs 13,400 crore with the purported involvement of a few of its employees.

Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi have refused to return India to join probe citing business and health reasons among others, they said.

Nirav Modi managed to travel across several countries even after information about his passport being revoked by the Indian government was flashed in the Interpol central database on February 24, the CBI had earlier said.

The ED had conducted 260 searches in this case across the country.