Can't return for safety concerns, case politicised: Nirav Modi
Mumbai, Jan 5: Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, a prime accused in the PNB fraud case, told a court here Saturday that he cannot return to India due to safety concerns and also because his case has been politicised.
Modi's lawyer filed his reply to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea seeking to declare the diamond merchant a fugitive under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) before the special court for cases filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Modi feared for his safety given the violent threats made against him "as illustrated by the burning of his effigies", the reply said.
Statements made by politicians from all parties showed that they had "prejudged the issue of his guilt" and his case was being used for political purposes, it added.
While he left the country long before a case was registered against him, the ED tried to "falsely implicate" him for offences "backed by shallow claims", Modi's reply said.
The fugitive diamond merchant also claimed to have duly replied to the ED's summons.
According to the ED, Modi failed to respond to its summons thrice, after which it filed the plea under the FEOA.
The ED did not mention that he had stated in his reply that he could not travel as his passport had been revoked, Modi said.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi cheated the Punjab National Bank (PNB) of Rs 14,000 crore by fraudulently securing Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) to obtain credit overseas.
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Four dead as motorbike falls off bridge in MP's Mandla
Mandla (MP) (PTI): Four men died after their motorcycle plunged off a dilapidated bridge in Madhya Pradesh's Mandla district, police said on Sunday.
The accident occurred near Bhainswahi village at around 8 pm on Saturday, Bijadandi Police Station House Officer (SHO) Anita Kudape said.
The four men were travelling from Paudi to Bhainswahi village when their motorcycle hit a pothole on the bridge. The rider lost control, and the two-wheeler plunged below, she said.
All four sustained serious injuries and later died, the official said.
The deceased have been identified as Pramod Kumar Nareti (24), Santalal Uikey (23), Shivam Yadav (25) and Gangaram (22), the official said.
The police registered a case and were investigating the incident.
VIDEO | Mandla, Madhya Pradesh: PS Balre, SDOP, says, “Four youths died after a motorcycle fell off a culvert in Bijandi; police are working to identify the victims.”
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 22, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/OQx5YQifSv
