PNB fraud: ED attaches Nirav Modi's properties worth Rs 171 cr
New Delhi, May 21: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday said that it has attached more properties of the absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi worth Rs 171 crore as part of its probe in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud.
"During further investigation, more properties and bank accounts beneficially owned by Nirav Modi were unearthed.
"And based on the bank statements, property documents and statements recorded of the concerned persons, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 and the money trail derived during the course of investigation properties worth Rs 171. 26 crore in the form of movable and immovable properties has been provisionally attached," an ED official said here.
The official said that the attached properties includes four commercial premises in Mumbai and Surat (with present market value worth Rs 72.87 crore), 106 bank accounts (with account balance of Rs 55.12 crore), 15 demat accounts (with Rs 35.86 crore) and 11 cars valued at Rs 4.01 crore.
The financial probe agency's action comes after it registered a separate case against the diamond jeweller and his uncle Mehul Choksi of the Gitanjali Group for defrauding the banks to the tune of Rs 14,500 crore.
Till date, the ED has carried out searches at over 251 properties across the country and seized diamond, gold, precious and semi-precious stones, and pearls.
The ED has also attached immovable properties belonging to Nirav Modi Group and Mehul Choksi group to the tune of Rs 7,638 crore.
The fraud was committed during 2011-17 by illegally issuing Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs).
Choksi, Nirav Modi and his family fled in January around a month before the PNB filed first complaint against them about the fraud and they are still at large.
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8 children between ages of 1 and 14 dead after mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.
The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.
The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.
Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.
Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.
“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”
Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.
