Nirav Modi, his uncle and Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi and others are being investigated by probe agencies in connection with a Rs11,400 crore PNB fraud. Photo: Mint
Mumbai/New Delhi: Expanding its investigation into the alleged PNB fraud, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday summoned Nirav Modi’s wife Ami Modi for questioning even as the agency froze bank deposits and shares worth about Rs44 crore of the diamantaire.
The ED also seized a huge collection of imported watches from a workshop location linked to the billionaire diamond jeweller.
According to agency officials, the ED has put fresh freeze orders on bank accounts containing Rs30 crore and shares worth Rs13.86 crore of the Nirav Modi group under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Besides summoning Modi’s wife Ami, an American citizen, the ED has called his uncle and Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi for questioning at the ED office in Mumbai on 26 February, the officials said.
Modi, who failed to keep his date for questioning on Thursday, has also been issued summons to appear before the ED on the same day.
On Friday, the ED seized a large collection of imported watches, 176 steel cupboards, 158 corrugated boxes and 60 other containers after searches at multiple locations linked to Modi over the last week, officials said. On Thursday, it had seized deposits, shares and luxury cars worth over Rs100 crore.
Modi, Choksi and others are being investigated by the ED, the CBI and the income tax department for their involvement in the Rs11,400 crore PNB fraud. The CBI and the ED have registered two FIRs each to probe the case. Both Modi and Choski are said to have left the country before criminal cases were lodged against them.
