Nirav Modi Chose To Remain In An English Jail Rather Than Return To India: Enforcement Directorate Tells PMLA Court

The prime accused in the Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, Nirav Modi preferred to remain in a United Kingdom jail rather than return to India after he was arrested in London, the Enforcement Directorate told a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA ) court recently.

This showed that Nirav Modi who is presently in Wandsworth prison in South West London since his arrest, never intended to return to India and face prosecution, the Enforcement Directorate’s lawyers told the PMLA court.

The information was furnished as part of an argument in favour of an ED plea seeking to declare Nirav Modi and his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi, who is also an accused in the PNB fraud case as fugitive economic offenders, under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

Enforcement Directorate’s lawyers argued that even after several summons as well as warrants, they have refused to present themselves to join the investigation.

Incidentally, the Enforcement Directorate had presented applications to declare Modi and Choksi as fugitive economic offenders an year ago, but final arguments on the plea commenced recently.

The prosecution argued that both are yet to return to India even after the Enforcement Directorate issued several summons.

It was argued that non-bailable warrants have also been issued against them.

The prosecution concluded its arguments and court has asked the defence lawyers to present their arguments.