As multi-agency probe into the PNB transaction scam continues, the Enforcement Directorate and CBI have separately asked the external affairs ministry to revoke the passport of billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi, accused of defrauding the bank of Rs 11,300 crore.
The move comes even as there are doubts about his citizenship or permanent resident status of some other country.
BCCL
Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi all left the country in the first week of January.
Many of his family members including his wife and brother have citizenship in other countries.
Amid reports that Nirav Modi is in New York raids were conducted across India in Modi's offices, showrooms and diamond workshops in Mumbai, Surat (Gujarat) and New Delhi and the ED has seized assets amounting to Rs 5,100 crore including diamond jewellery, gold and cash.
PTI
Six diamond workshops were raided in Gujarat. Two diamond jewellery boutiques of Modi in New Delhi - in Chanakyapuri and Defence Colony - were also raided.
Meanwhile more details of the modus operandi of the scam has since surfaced. A PNB official called Gokulnath K Shetty used his access to SWIFT, the international money transfer tool to make the transactions.
PTI
The scam which has been happening since 2011 came to light only a year after Shetty retired and the new person in his seat who was unaware of his predecessor's actions got wind of it after the company executives approached him for another transfer.