The Union government was not aware whether bank fraud fugitive Nirav Modi had sought political asylum in the U.K., official sources said on July 4.
“We are not aware that he has asked political asylum in the U.K. It has not informed us anything about it,” said a source.
Nirav Modi is wanted by the CBI in the . The Interpol had issued a Red Notice against him, his brother Nishal Modi and an employee, Subhash Parab, on the request of the CBI.
There were reports that Nirav Modi may have visited the U.K., France and Belgium in the past few weeks. Sources said Indian missions abroad were conveying to local governments about the Interpol Red Notice against Nirav Modi.
Charge sheet by CBI
The on the basis of a charge sheet filed by the CBI in a special court in Mumbai and an arrest warrant issued by judge J.C. Jagdale.
In the Red Notice, the Interpol asks its member countries to arrest or detain the person if spotted in their countries after which extradition or deportation proceedings can begin.
Nirav Modi, along with his wife Ami Modi, a U.S. citizen; brother Nishal Modi, a Belgian citizen; and uncle Mehul Choksi (all accused in the CBI FIRs in the case), left the country in the first week of January last, weeks before the country’s biggest banking scam surfaced.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also written to several European countries seeking help in tracing Nirav Modi.