'Nirav Modi is in UK': British authorities tell Indian Government

British authorities have informed India that bank fraud fugitive Nirav Modi is living in the UK, the government has said. Replying to a question, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh told Rajya Sabha that National Central Bureau of Manchester conveyed to Indian agencies that their investigations have led to the location of Nirav Modi in the UK.

"In August 2018, the government sent two requests, one from the CBI and the other from the Enforcement Directorate, to the authorities of the UK seeking the extradition of Nirav Modi to India," he said.

He said the requests are presently under the consideration of the authorities concerned of the UK. In June, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had written to several European countries seeking help in tracing Nirav Modi. 

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In August earlier this year, Republic TV was the first to track down the exact addresses of the PNB-scam accused, which located to London. The Gitanjali Gems chief's hideouts in London were also mentioned in extradition notices that were served to Nirav Modi by the CBI. The fugitive fraud-accused's first hideout was located in London's fashionable and central Westminster area.

Nirav Modi is the prime accused in the Rs 13,400 crore PNB scam. He and his uncle Mehul Choksi are being investigated by the agencies for their role in the scam. The scam, which reportedly began in 2011, was detected in January this year, after which PNB officials reported it to the probe agencies. Two criminal complaints were filed by the ED in this regard after taking cognisance of CBI FIRs.

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As for Mehul Chowksi, he was tracked by Republic TV to be living in Antigua by, a development which was confirmed by the country's Prime Minister, who stated that he had become a resident of Antigua.