Fugitive billionaire Nirav Modi spotted in UK, has started new diamond business

Team Udayavani, Mar 9, 2019, 5:56 AM IST

New Delhi/London: Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi has been reportedly tracked down to an 8-million pound apartment in London’s posh locality West End.

The British daily Telegraph reported that billionaire diamond tycoon, accused in the USD2 billion PNB fraud case, has been tracked down by it to an 8 million pound apartment in London’s West End.

Modi fled the country before the fraud became public and has not returned ever since despite repeated summons from probe agencies and courts.

In a two-minute clip shared by the newspaper, Modi, who is seen sporting a handle-bar moustache and wearing an expensive jacket, replied “no comments” at least six times to questions ranging from how long he planned to stay in the UK, whether he has sought asylum in the United Kingdom etc. The newspaper headlined its piece ‘Exclusive: India’s most wanted man Nirav Modi – accused of £1.5 billion fraud -living openly in London’.

Modi has started a new diamond business in Soho, says the newspaper report and quoting government sources, it mentions that Modi has been given a national insurance number – needed to legally work in the UK – and has been operating bank accounts online while being wanted by India.

Modi is the subject of an extradition request by India, along with an Interpol Red Corner Notice being issued for the PNB scam accused. His uncle Mehul Choksi, who happens to be the other accused was granted citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda on January 15, 2018.

On Friday, the PNB scam accused’s bungalow in Alibag at Raigad district in India was demolished by the authorities on orders of the Bombay High Court for violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.