Swiss freeze on 4 accounts of Nirav

New Delhi, June 27

Four Swiss bank accounts of beleaguered diamantaire Nirav Modi, the main accused in the USD 2-billion Punjab National Bank fraud case, and his sister have been “frozen” 

by authorities in Switzerland as part of the criminal money laundering probe being conducted against them in India, official sources said.

They said the accounts, at present, have deposits totalling Rs 283.16 crore and have been frozen on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after it informed Switzerland authorities that the money kept in them are “proceeds of crime” of a bank fraud perpetrated by the duo.

The ED, they said, made the request to the Swiss authorities sometime back and sent an official request under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Official sources said while the accounts of Nirav Modi, the diamantaire under arrest in this case in London, have deposits of USD 3,74,11,596, the accounts in the name of his sister Purvi Modi have deposits of GBP 27,38,136. This totals around Rs 283.16 crore.

The central probe agency is expected to now make a move for the attachment of these bank accounts under the PMLA. — TNS

Remand till July 25

London: A UK court on Thursday extended till July 25 the remand of Nirav Modi. The 48-year-old, who is fighting his extradition to India, has been behind bars at Wandsworth prison in south-west London since his arrest in March.