CBI opposes plea by Nirav Modi's brother-in-law to travel back to Hong Kong home

The CBI has opposed Mainak Mehta’s plea to return to his Hong Kong home. Mehta is the brother-in-law of Nirav Modi. Mehta and his wife, Purvi, were made approvers in 2021 in a case by the ED against them, Nirav Modi and others under the PMLA.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is opposed to Mainak Mehta, brother-in-law of Nirav Modi, returning to his home in Hong Kong. The CBI has sought the dismissal of his plea in the "interest of justice."

Mehta is a British national and the brother-in-law of diamantaire Nirav Modi. He and his wife, Purvi Modi, were made approvers last year in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against them and others.

The ED is investigating the money laundering part of the case against Nirav Modi and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Mehta and his wife offered to become approvers in Jan 2021. They said they would depose as the prosecution's witnesses. In September 2021, however, only Mehta travelled to India.

But, with his appearance, the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court cancelled all outstanding non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against him. However, in spite of the NBWs being cancelled, there is a standing Look Out Circular (LOC) against him, and the CBI has said that the court does not have the jurisdiction to cancel a pending LOC.

The CBI said that the case against Nirav Modi and Mehta was that US $30 million was transferred from Nirav Modi's Dubai-based "shell company" to Mehta's Singapore bank account in 2013. The company was allegedly controlled by Nirav Modi through dummy directors and was used to facilitate the commission of the crime.

The CBI further added, “Notices were served to Maiank Mehta for providing the statement of accounts pertaining to the transactions. But, despite persuasion, he could not produce the same, and in the absence of the record, the investigation of this account is at a standstill.”