Open NBWs on PNB accused

Mumbai: A special PMLA court has issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant (NBW) against fugitive jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, who are the key accused in the PNB bank fraud case. An open-ended NBW refers to a warrant, for which there is no returnable date, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would not be required to seek issuance of any fresh NBW if it is not executed till the fixed date.

Special public prosecutor E. A. Naqvi filed an application before PMLA court judge S. M. Azmi on Thursday, seeking the issuance of an open ended non-bailable warrant against Nirav Modi and other co-accused in a case registered against them by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

It was contended that the accused are believed to be staying in a foreign country and the probe agency requires some time to acquire their custody. Since it would be difficult to execute the warrant within a short periodand the agency would be required to get fresh warrants on expiry, the court was requested to issue open-ended NBW.

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