CBI gets nod for extradition plea

Mumbai: A special CBI court Wednesday allowed an application filed by the agency, seeking issuance of a supplementary extradition request on behalf of India to the UK for extradition of fugitive jeweller Nirav Modi in the PNB scam case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) moved the plea through advocate A. Limosin, contending that the supplementary charge sheet filed recently revealed tampering with evidence and with witnesses. He also argued that more evidence had come on record based on which there was need for the government of India to issue a supplementary extradition request to the UK for extradition of Nirav Modi.

After hearing the arguments, CBI Judge V.C. Barde said, “In view of the supplementary charge-sheet filed against the said accused of which cognisance is taken, the supplementary extradition request as urged be issued.”

Following the order, the request will be sent to the UK through diplomatic channels after completion of the required documentation. The CBI in it supplementary chargesheet named Nirav Modi’s brother and four others as accused. The agency added the charges of destruction of evidence and threatening witnesses.

As per the investigating agencies, Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated the Punjab National Bank of Rs 14,000 crore through issuance of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking. A Mumbai branch of the PNB alle-gedly issued these LoUs in a fraudulent manner to the group companies belo-nging to Nirav Modi since March 2011 till such time the case came to light.