PNB scam: ED attaches jewellery, bank accounts of Nirav Modi and family worth Rs 637 crore

The Enforcement Diretorate on Monday attached properties and bank accounts of Nirav Modi and his family members worth Rs 637 crore concerning with the infamous Punjab National Bank.

"ED attaches Rs 637 crore worth of assets of Nirav Modi and family in India and four other countries in PNB fraud case", an official told PTI.

Earlier, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy had written a letter to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking permission to initiate proceedings to prosecute Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia. Swamy alleged that Adhia has been involved in several corrupt activities and 'enabled' diamond jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi flee India. The BJP MP claimed that Adhia is still in touch with fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and alleged that he is 'extending' him a 'protective shield'. In his letter, Swamy has urged Jaitley to prosecute Adhia under Section 197 of CrPC and Section 19 Prevention of Corruption Act.

In an exclusive interview to ANI, Swamy said: "I wrote to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today, seeking sanctions to prosecute Hasmukh Adhia. He has been involved in not only many corrupt acitvities listed in the letter, but also in protecting corrupt people like P. Chidambaram and Sonia Gandhi. He has transferred all officers who have taken action against them, against these people in the National Herald, Income Tax matters. He has transferred a young Revenue Service Officer who was doing very good work." Swamy further added that he will file a PIL in the Supreme Court on October 4.

"We cannot fight corruption from our own inside, people are sabotaging our activities. So, I have asked people for sanctions to prosecute him. On October 4, I will go to the Supreme Court to file a PIL in this matter," Swamy said. "The Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, as it is popularly known today, is about the grant of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) by the bank to the companies of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi for a fraud involving Rs 11,000 crore. Presently, both of them are absconding. The said individuals and their companies are being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax (IT) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Three of the above mentioned four agencies work under the aegis of the Finance Ministry, and directly report to Adhia," Swamy wrote in his letter to Jaitley.