ED to send judicial requests to over a dozen countries to obtain information in PNB scam

The Enforcement Directorate will soon send judicial requests to over a dozen countries for obtaining information about the overseas businesses and assets of diamantaire Nirav Modi and owner of Gitanjali Gems Mehul Choksi. 

Enforcement Directorate will approach a competent court in Mumbai with a request to obtain Letters Rogatories (LRs) to be sent to about 15-17 countries where the central investigation agency has traced the footsteps of the diamond and gold jewellery businesses of the firms owned by Modi, his uncle Choksi and others associated with them. 

The countries where the LRs would be sent include Belgium, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the United



States, the United Kingdom, Dubai, Singapore and South Africa. 

The attempt of sending these judicial requests for exchange of information is aimed at obtaining the details of the overseas financial holdings of Modi and Choksi, their bank accounts, assets, partnerships, showrooms, trusts and other assets. 

The agency has also asked about 16 other banks, apart from the Punjab National Bank, to share with it the details of loans extended and collaterals offered in the case of Modi, Choksi and their companies.

It has also asked the RBI to share with it audit reports of the PNB conducted by it since 2011.