Five More Arrests In Nirav Modi Bank Fraud Case
"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("
![Related News Programmes Related News Programmes](http://newsstatic.rthk.hk/frontend_images/images/headers/sub-headers/related_news_programe.png)
"); });
2018-02-21 HKT 02:45
India's federal investigating agency on Tuesday arrested another five executives as it swooped down on companies run by two main suspects in an alleged US$1.8 billion bank fraud case that continued for six years.
Central Bureau of Investigation spokesman Abhished Dayal said the five worked for the companies owned by Nirav Modi, a billionaire jeweller, and his uncle Mehul Chinubhai Choksi. Their whereabouts are not known.
Five bank executives and another employee of Modi's company Firestar group were arrested over the past three days for allegedly conspiring to cheat the state-owned Punjab National Bank, bringing the total number to 11, the spokesman said.
Modi allegedly cheated the bank by using fake bank "letters of understanding" to get loans. Most of the letters were sent to overseas offices of Indian banks, which made the actual loans, said Sunil Mehta, Punjab National Bank's managing director.
India's Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday blamed bank management and auditors.
Such scams, he said, not only had a direct cost on the country and the taxpayers, but also an indirect cost on borrowings and development.
The Press Trust of India news agency reported that Modi sent a letter to the bank this week saying he owes less than half the amount claimed by the bank in connection with the alleged fraud.
Nirav runs an international jewellery empire that reaches from India to New York, with a string of high-end brands. He and his family fled India weeks before the bank registered a criminal case with the CBI on January 31.
The CBI and other Indian investigative agencies searched dozens of offices and residences used by Modi and his business partners. The bank named Modi, his brother Nishal Modi, wife Ami Modi and uncle Mehul Chinubhai Choksi as suspects in its complaint.
In his letter to the bank, Modi said he owes about 50 billion rupees (US$775 million), according to PTI. He said the US$1.8 billion cited by the bank had resulted in a media frenzy that pressured authorities to quickly search and seize assets from his Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International companies.
"This thereby jeopardized our ability to discharge the dues of the group to the banks," Modi said.
The CBI spokesman said the agency had not yet received Modi's letter. There was no immediate comment from the state-run bank.
With the Indian media reporting that Modi and his family were hiding in New York or Dubai, the External Affairs Ministry said it has suspended the passports of Modi and his uncle, Choksi, for four weeks.
It said in a statement that if they fail to explain within seven days why their passports should not be cancelled, their travel documents will be revoked. (AP)
US Stocks Rise On Hopes Of Pause In Rate Increases
Wall Street stocks finished solidly higher on Thursday, reflecting better sentiment on the US economy and a consensus vi... Read more
China's Financial Risks 'controllable': Regulators
The head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration on Thursday told a high-profile forum in Shanghai that the ... Read more
Banks Cut Yuan Deposit Rates, Could Boost Consumption
China's biggest banks on Thursday said they have lowered interest rates on yuan deposits, in actions that could ease pre... Read more
Cheese And Wine Put EU, Australia Deal In Peril
Australia on Thursday threatened to walk away from a blockbuster free trade deal with the European Union unless its prod... Read more
US Stocks End Mixed As Tech Shares Are Sold Off
Gains by industrial companies lifted the Dow on Wednesday, while weakness among technology shares pushed the Nasdaq deci... Read more
Amazon 'plans Prime Video Streaming Service With Ads'
Amazon.com is planning to launch an advertising-supported tier of its Prime Video streaming service, the Wall Street Jou... Read more