Sterling Biotech group case: Hitesh Patel detained in Albania

NEW DELHI: Hitesh Patel, accused in Sterling Biotech case, detained in Albania on the basis of an Interpol notice issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), officials said on Friday.

They said Patel was apprehended by law enforcement officials of Albania in Tirana on March 20. "Patel is an accused in the case and is the brother-in-law of the main accused in the case, the Sandesara brothers (Nitin and Chetan Sandesara). He is expected to be extradited to India soon," officials said.

This comes days after fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, accused in over Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, was arrested in London.



The ED had ensued an Interpol red corner notice against him on March 11.

Earlier in the week, a Delhi court on Tuesday had allowed the ED to send extradition requests to Albania for two directors of the Gujarat-based pharma firm in a Rs 8,100-crore money laundering case.

The ED had told the court that as per reliable sources, the accused -- Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Chetankumar Jayantilal Sandesara, both directors of Sterling Biotech Ltd (SBL) -- have obtained the citizenship of Albania and non-bailable warrants (NBWs) were issued against them earlier this year.

The court had in January this year issued open-ended NBWs against the accused on a plea moved by advocate A R Aditya on behalf of ED.

Besides Nitin and Chetankumar, the court had also issued NBWs against two other SBL directors -- Dipti Chetan Sandesara and Hitesh Patel.

The ED had registered the alleged bank fraud case against SBL under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The accused are also being probed by the central probe agency for allegedly bribing senior Income Tax (I-T) department officials as part of an earlier criminal complaint.

The accused had fled the country soon after cases were registered against them in 2017.

(With PTI inputs)