Nirav Modi arrested in London, to be produced in court shortly

New Delhi: Absconding jeweller Nirav Modi, the main accused in the USD 2 billion (Rs 13,500 crore) PNB fraud case, was arrested in London by the Scotland Yard from Holborn on Tuesday in pursuance of the extradition request by Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The absconding diamantaire was arrested on a warrant issued by London's Westminster Magistrates' Court and will be produced before court shortly today. It is believed that the 48-year-old fugitive jeweller will be formally charged at Westminster Magistrates' Court, following which he is expected to seek bail.

Modi had fled immediately after the PNB Scam surfaced last year. A Red Corner Notice was issued by the Interpol against Modi in June last year.

Meanwhile the External Affairs ministry had also sent an extradition request to the United Kingdom in August last year.

India's premiere investigative agencies, the Enforcement Directorate as well as the CBI are probing the PNB scam involving Modi and his Uncle and aide Mehul Choksi. Choksi also fled India last year and has taken refuge in Antigua.

The CBI has registered an FIR against Modi, Choksi, Modi's brother and wife. While his wife Ami is a US citizen, his brother Nishal is a Belgian citizen.

Case against Nirav Modi and other co-accused in the matter

Modi along with Choksi allegedly cheated Punjab National Bank through fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertakings (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs), thus siphoning off funds worth Rs 6,498.20 from PNB's Brady House branch in Mumbai while Choksi has been accused of swindling Rs 7080.86 crore.

An LoU is a guarantee given by an issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant short-term credit to the applicant.