UK sought intelligence on Nirav Modi only in June: ED

NEW DELHI: The ED has denied reports that UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) had communicated to Indian authorities about Nirav Modi’s presence in the country in March last year and said the extradition request was sent by the agency only in July after filing of a chargesheet against him.

The Interpol had issued a red notice against Nirav around that time. “In June, the National Central Bureau of UK, which is the nodal agency for matters relating to Red Corner Notice, had asked ED to provide them with intelligence suggesting that Nirav Modi is in UK,” the agency said. No such formal or informal communication was received by ED from UK authorities in March, 2018 or later, the officer added. The consistent stand of the UK government regarding execution of arrest warrant is that it can be done only through an extradition request for which filing of chargesheet is mandatory. The extradition request cannot be sent at the stage of investigation.