The government has sent a request to the U.K. for extradition of absconding jeweller Nirav Modi, wanted in India in connection with $2 billion scam in the Punjab National Bank.
Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh also said two Red Corner Notices have been issued against Modi by Interpol.
"The request has been sent by a Special Diplomatic Bag to the High Commission of India (HCI), London for onward transmission to the U.K. authorities," V.K.Singh said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha yesterday.
Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are the main accused in the scam, India's biggest banking fraud. Both of them left India before the details of the fraud came to light on Jan. 16.
While it has now emerged that Choksi has taken citizenship of caribbean island of Antigua, there is no clarity on whereabouts of Modi. There were reports that Modi visited several countries in the past few months including the U.K., France and Belgium.
The MEA wrote to several European countries seeking help in tracing Modi in June. The MEA revoked Modi's passport on Feb. 16. However, Singh said the MEA has no means to verify the travels, if any, of Modi and the passport used for such travels by him.
Last month the MEA said it sent messages to all Indian missions abroad to get in touch with local governments to deny entry to Modi and inform India if he was residing there.
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