World Exclusive: ABP News tracks down Nirav Modi in London

A London court has issued an arrest warrant against fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, the main accused in the USD 2 billion PNB scam case, in response to an ED request for his extradition in a money laundering case.

Exclusive visuals of fugitive Nirav Modi from London. PIC/ABP News)

Nirav has set up a new diamond business from an office in nearby Soho.

The locality is considered as the fashionable district of upmarket restaurants and media offices.

ABP News has found that he often takes his pet dog for a walk while going to office.

New Delhi: The elusive diamantaire Nirav Modi was tracked down by ABP News in London on Monday. This is for the first time Modi has been captured in the cameras of an Indian news agency. He was recently spotted on the streets of London by a local newspaper. Wearing a black jacket and a denim trouser, the fugitive diamond merchant was seen briskly walking down in discomfiture from his Soho office towards his residence trying to evade our questions and camera. In the visuals, ABP News’ special investigative editor Sheela Raval is seen persuading him to come clean on the allegations of bank fraud but he categorically refuses to answer any of the questions and prevaricated. Requesting privacy, the fraudster said he needs to be “spared” and had “faith” in the courts in the United Kingdom. Raval said she had sent his office a formal letter last week a list of questions seeking his version on the charges which he has remained tight-lipped about ever since fleeing from India. In today’s 15-minute intermittent interaction, Raval handed him the letter which he accepted and walked into a cafe near his residence to avoid further questions which according to him were badgering and later booked an Uber vehicle to leave to an undisclosed location. Nirav Modi is accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank out of Rs 13,000 crore. ABP News detecting Nirav Modi off guard in London comes on the day when the city's Westminster court has issued an arrest warrant against him on India’s Enforcement Directorate's request for extradition. He will have to surrender in a week’s time. Officials quoted by news agency PTI said the investigative agency has been informed about the issuance of the warrant by the Westminster Magistrate Court against Modi and he is expected to be put under formal arrest by the local police soon. Modi will be subsequently brought before the court to secure bail and the legal proceedings for his extradition will begin thereafter, they said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), early this month, had said that United Kingdom's home secretary Sajid Javid had referred India's request for extraditing Modi to a court for initiating legal proceedings against the diamantaire. The extradition request was sent in July 2018 by the Enforcement Directorate. ABP News’ quest to find out the guileful trader intensified after London-based newspaper The Daily Telegraph had reported that Nirav Modi was now “involved in a new diamond business run from an office in Soho, just a few hundred yards from his new apartment” in London. He is living in a plush locality of central London flat that costs £8 million (around Rs 74 crore). ABP News has found that the flat is on the 28^th floor, in Centre Point, a skyscraper next to the Tottenham Court Road underground station. (WATCH FULL REPORT) He has set up a new diamond business from an office in nearby Soho. The locality is considered as the fashionable district of upmarket restaurants and media offices. ABP News has found that he often takes his pet dog for a walk while going to office. Reports also say Britain’s department of work and pensions has issued him with a National Insurance number, although Interpol has put out a “red notice” requesting his arrest at India’s behest. Modi surprisingly had a nonchalant attitude when the London newspaper’s reporter asked him questions last week. He was supposedly wearing an ostrich-hide jacket that is estimated to cost that is estimated to cost £10,000 (around Rs 9.2 lakh). Modi has entered the UK on a 'golden visa', issued on his Indian passport. It is issued by the British government to investors outside the European Union on a commitment to invest £2 million in UK government bonds or shares of a company Commenting on ABP News' exclusive report from London , Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said PM Narendra Modi has shielded Nirav Modi and Vilay Mallya and that’s the reason why they are living such a comfortable life in England. Facing flak from the Congress on the matter, Shaina NC of the BJP hit back saying Modi began his fraud in 2011 when the UPA dispensation was in power and that the Narendra Modi government detected and exposed it. "Congress’ allegations are completely baseless and unfounded.”

Published at : 18 Mar 2019 10:22 PM (IST)

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