Nirav Modi proclaimed ‘fugitive economic offender’

Mumbai: In a big boost for Indian investigating agencies, a special PMLA court has proclaimed absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi, one of the prime accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank scam of 2017, as a ‘fugitive economic offender’ here on Thursday.

“With this, he becomes only the second accused so far under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) to have been declared a ‘fugitive economic offender’ after another accused, Vijay Mallya,” Special Counsel for Enforcement Directorate (ED) Hiten Venegaonkar told IANS.

The significant order came a day after his uncle and co-accused in the PNB scam - Mehul Choksi - suffered a huge setback when the Bombay High Court rejected his plea to stay the special PMLA court proceedings where the ED is seeking to declare him as a ‘fugitive economic offender’.

Liquor baron and former chief of Kingfisher Airlines, Mallya, was declared a ‘fugitive economic offender’ by a Mumbai special court in January this year.

The huge setback to Nirav Modi came a day after special PMLA judge V.C. Barde said that “the proclamation envisaged by Sec. 82 of the CrPC shall be issued as the accused absconded and concealing themselves to avoid execution of warrant..”(IANS)

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