PNB fraud: ED attaches Rs 170-cr assets of Nirav Modi

Days after seizing jewellery from diamantaire Mehul Choksi's premises in Dubai, the Enforcement Directorate on Monday attached assets worth Rs 170 crore of his nephew Nirav Modi.

The ED has issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act attaching a number of bank accounts, immovable assets and share investments of Nirav, his associates and firms.

On May 17, the ED had seized around 34,000 pieces of jewellery, worth Rs 85 crore, from Gitanjali Group, owned by Choksi.

According to the ED, the agency had attached assets worth over Rs 7,600 crore from all the accused in this case till March.

The CBI is planning to approach the Interpol soon for the issuance of Red Corner Notices against Nirav and Choksi.

The move is being mooted days after the agency filed two charge sheets in a Mumbai court against Nirav and Choksi, among others, for cheating through the fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertakings and Foreign Letters of Credit.

According to the CBI chargesheet filed last week, Nirav reportedly used his companies to siphon off funds to the tune of Rs 6,498.2 crore using fraudulent LoUs issued from the PNB's Brady House branch in Mumbai.

Choksi is claimed to have swindled Rs 7,080.86 crore.