The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has written to several European countries seeking help to trace fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, accused of bank fraud, even as it asserted that he did not have more than one Indian passport in his possession.
MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday the ministry had also sent messages to all its missions abroad to get in touch with local governments to deny entry to Modi and inform India if he was residing there.
Earlier, there were reports that Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of the Rs 13,000-crore PNB fraud case, reportedly possessed as many as six Indian passports because of which he might have continued travelling even though his passport was revoked on 24 February.
There were reports that Modi might have visited the UK, France and Belgium in the past few weeks.
“We have sent a message to all our Missions as well as to select countries requesting the help of the local government in denying entry and to inform us if he is residing in their country,” Kumar said during a media briefing.
“At no time, he had more than one valid passport in his possession. You are all aware that in February, based on the advise of our agencies, his passport was initially suspended and then revoked,” Kumar added.
Sources said Modi could not be arrested abroad unless the Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against him.
According to reports, the Interpol will soon issue the RCN.
Earlier, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official had said it expedited the process to issue a RCN against Nirav Modi as it had been known that he travelled to multiple countries between February 10 and March 31 on revoked Indian passport.
The CBI officials said a June 5 letter, shared by Britain, revealed that the fugitive businessman travelled from US’ John F. Kennedy International Airport to Britain’s Heathrow Airport onFebruary 10, from Frank Pais Airport in Cuba to Heathrow on February 15, from Heathrow to Hong Kong International Airport on March 15, from there back to Heathrow on March 28 and from Heathrow to Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on March 31.
On June 11, the CBI approached the Interpol to issue a RCN against Nirav Modi.
(With agency inputs)