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The ED did not mention that he had stated in his reply that he could not travel as his passport had been revoked, Modi said.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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Accused in Hubbali Anjali murder case arrested in Davangere
Hubli: The Hubbali-Dharwad Police Commissioner, Renuka Sukumar, has informed that the accused involved in the brutal murder of Anjali Ambigera has been arrested.
Vishwa alias Girish Sawant, the prime suspect in the Anjali Ambigera murder, was arrested in Davangere late Thursday night.
Sawant, attempting to flee from Mysuru via the Goa-Maharashtra train was struck by bad luck as he fell from the moving train at around 11:30 PM. He sustained grave injuries and was rushed to Chigateri Hospital in Davangere by Railway Police. Subsequently, Davangere police identified Sawant and notified the Hubbali police. The Hubbali police took custody of him at around 4:30 AM and admitted him to a hospital in the city.
Reports indicate Sawant faced assault from a fellow passenger allegedly for his misconduct during the journey, possibly contributing to his fall. However, official details regarding the circumstances leading to his fall remain undisclosed. Commissioner Sukumar mentioned Sawant's current inability to provide a statement due to severe head and facial injuries.
Anjali was brutally stabbed in Hubbali two days back while she was asleep allegedly for rejecting the love proposal of the accused man.
