PNB fraud case: CBI sleuths interrogate Chartered Accountant of Nirav Modi's sister

In the Nirav Modi fraud case, that hit Punjab National Bank (PNB) hard, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently interrogated a senior Mumbai-based chartered accountant. The CA has been an investment adviser to Nirav Modi’s sister Purvi Mehta, who and her family are settled in Hong Kong. The CBI is probing whether the fugitive diamond merchant used his sister or any entities linked to her to route and move funds, said an Economic Times report. 

According to the report, the well- known chartered accountant, whose office is in South Mumbai’s Tardeo locality, was questioned for three days. The CA specialises in areas like foreign exchange, financial derivatives, and hedging. The CBI reportedly summoned Nirav Modi's financial adviser at a point when it is believed that the diamond trader Modi was either in Hong Kong or had left the place after a brief stay. 

The CA was asked about the probable whereabouts of Modi and if the troubled businessman was in touch with him, the report said. 

In the alleged multi-crore Punjab National Bank fraud, Chetna Jhaveri, a director of the scam-hit Gitanjali Gems, recorded her statement before the crime branch officials in connection with a cheating case filed against her in Ahmedabad, last year, said a PTI report.

"The crime branch today recorded the statement of Jhaveri, who is a director of Gitanjali Gems, in connection with a cheating case filed against her in 2016 related to the Mehul Choksi-promoted company," DCP (crime) Deepan Bhadran told PTI.

Jhaveri reportedly recorded her statement before the investigating officer in the case related to the Gitanjali Gems, but was not arrested as the Gujarat High Court had prevented the police from "taking any coercive action against her".

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has refused to disclose under the RTI Act the assets of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi seized during its probe into the PNB scam. Earlier, the agency had made public on Twitter that assets worth Rs 7,664 crore were attached in connection with the cases, involving the uncle-nephew duo of Modi and Choksi.

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A PTI report also stated that the ED also refused to disclose expenses incurred on attempts to bring back the two billionaire diamantaires who had fled the country in the first week of January, 2018.