English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

PNB scam: Here’s how Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi orchestrated India’s biggest banking fraud

The arrest of Mehul Choksi has brought back focus on the Rs 14,000 crore PNB scam involving Nirav Modi and a network of fake credit guarantees.

Published

on

PNB scam

By Mohammad Javed Rasheedi

The arrest of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in Belgium has once again turned attention to one of India’s most significant financial frauds—the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. The Rs 14,000 crore fraud, which came to light in 2018, involved Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi, who colluded with bank officials to illegally obtain credit guarantees using forged documents.

Choksi, who was reportedly living in Antwerp with his wife after securing residency in Belgium in late 2023, was arrested on April 12 from a hospital. His detention follows extradition efforts by Indian authorities, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), who have been pursuing him for years.

What was the PNB scam?

The fraud involved fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) at PNB’s Brady House branch in Mumbai. Choksi’s firm, Gitanjali Gems and other entities linked to Nirav Modi, used these LoUs to obtain credit from foreign banks—far exceeding regulatory norms. These guarantees, worth thousands of crores, were issued without proper sanctions, security, or entries in the bank’s core system.

Investigations revealed that Choksi and Modi used the SWIFT network to communicate with overseas banks without updating PNB’s internal banking software, thereby bypassing oversight. This led to an estimated Rs 6,344 crore loss to PNB alone, as multiple Indian banks including SBI and Axis Bank released funds based on the fraudulent LoUs.

Timeline of the scam’s discovery

The scam began unravelling in early 2018 when employees from companies like Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds requested LoUs and were denied due to lack of margin security. Upon further checks, PNB discovered that such requests had been routinely granted in the past without collateral.

PNB filed a complaint with the CBI on January 29, 2018, naming Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and other accomplices, including bank officials. The initial fraud amount stood at Rs 280.7 crore but ballooned to over Rs 14,000 crore within months.

Nirav Modi first received a fraudulent LoU in March 2011 and went on to obtain over 1,200 such guarantees. The ED found that dummy companies abroad were used to funnel money and devices used for these transactions were allegedly destroyed by Nirav’s brother, Nehal Modi.

Modi fled India before formal charges were filed, applied for bankruptcy protection in New York in 2018, and was arrested in London in March 2019. He continues to fight extradition to India.

Mehul Choksi was declared a fugitive in early 2018 and fled India citing medical issues. He acquired Antiguan citizenship in 2017 and later tried to flee to Cuba in 2021. He was intercepted in Dominica and later returned to Antigua. He then reportedly moved to Belgium for medical treatment, where he was arrested following India’s renewed extradition request.

The Enforcement Directorate has seized assets worth Rs 2,362 crore linked to Choksi, spread across Thailand, Dubai, Japan, the US, and other locations. Coordination is ongoing with international authorities to recover and repatriate more assets.

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

Published

on

Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

Continue Reading

India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

Published

on

Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

Published

on

Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com