Nirav Modi spotted in London, running diamond business: Report
What's the story
Nirav Modi, the fugitive diamantaire wanted in the multi-crore PNB scam, is living freely in London, a report in The Telegraph confirmed.
He currently resides in a luxurious apartment in London's West End and is also running his diamond business.
The businessman fled India in January 2018, just weeks before the scam came to light.
Here's what the report claimed.
Context
Backstory: Modi and his uncle cheated PNB for years
To recall, Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi pulled off India's biggest banking fraud. During 2011-17, the duo connived with PNB officials to get letters of undertaking issued fraudulently.
The scam, initially pegged at Rs. 280 crore, grew substantially with time. They allegedly cheated PNB of more than Rs. 13,400 crore.
The case is being investigated by the ED and CBI.
Interaction
Modi wears jacket worth Rs. 9 lakh
The portal published an exclusive interview with Modi. The businessman, who sported a handlebar mustache, has grown fatter.
While the reporter hurled questions at Modi, he kept saying "no comments".
Notably, the jacket which Modi wore during the conversation is made from "Ostrich Hide" and costs at least Rs. 9 lakh.
PNB fraud has clearly not affected him in any manner.
Business
It's business as usual for Modi
The publication tracked down Modi to a three-bedroom £8 million apartment. The rent of this extravagant apartment is said to be £17,000 a month.
Apart from this, Modi has also started a new diamond business. His office is only a few hundred meters away from his residence.
His business is listed in companies house as "wholesale trade and retailer in watches and jewelry".
Quote
Modi walks his small dog from office to home everyday
"Modi appears to have adopted a surprisingly nonchalant attitude to his fugitive status, walking his small dog each day between his apartment and the diamond company's office in a townhouse in Soho just a few hundred yards from his Centre Point home," the report read.
Work
But how is he working again? The answer is here
The department of work and pension has reportedly given Modi a national insurance number, which is required to legally work in the UK.
As a result, he has been able to operate his business online.
"It is not clear why the British government has given him a national insurance number and yet has apparently failed to act on Interpol red notice," the report added.
Questions
Reporter asked questions to Modi, he remained silent
Reportedly, Modi is also in touch with a wealth management company based in West London, which "helps" rich foreigners.
The fugitive businessman was asked whether he has got political asylum in the UK, and he replied, "No comments".
When told that he owes a lot of money to people who would want to know his whereabouts, Modi repeated his answer.
Twitter Post
Modi clearly doesn't want to give answers to important questions
Exclusive: Telegraph journalists tracked down Nirav Modi, the billionaire diamond tycoon who is a suspect for the biggest banking fraud in India's historyhttps://t.co/PpsjGeFEsy pic.twitter.com/v3dN5NotzQ
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 8, 2019
Extradition
The request for Modi's extradition hasn't reached anywhere
It should be noted that India made a request to Britain regarding Modi's extradition in August last year. But there has been little improvement in this regard.
The foreign country's home secretary and home office have neither confirmed nor denied receiving any such request from India.
While Modi is in the UK, Choksi got citizenship of Antigua and is living there.
Bungalow
Earlier, Modi's Alibaug bungalow was demolished
Notably, district authorities Alibaug-bungalow-demolished/story">razed down Modi's posh bungalow in Alibaug, Maharashtra, on Friday. The property was illegally built and violated several environmental norms.
The structure's strong foundation made it difficult for authorities to bring it down using heavy machinery or bulldozer.
So, they drilled holes in pillars, put dynamite sticks, and demolished it through a controlled blast.