
PNB scam: ED attaches Thailand factory of Mehul Choksi’s group company worth over Rs 13 crore
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Friday said it has attached a factory in Thailand worth over Rs 13 crore of a Gitanjali group company, owned by absconding diamond jeweller Mehul Choksi, in connection with the alleged USD 2 billion PNB fraud case.
The agency said it has issued a provisional order for attachment, under the PMLA, of the factory premise owned by Abbeycrest (Thailand) Limited which is a “group company” of the Gitanjali group of companies.
“Investigations under PMLA revealed that Abbeycrest (Thailand) Limited is the beneficiary of the LoUs (Letters of Undertaking) issued fraudulently and unauthorisedly from the PNB to the tune of Rs 92.3 crore. “During probe, this overseas property has been identified and after gathering concrete evidence of ownership it has been attached,” the ED said in a statement.
The value of the property is Rs 13.14 crore, it added. The ED is probing this case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Officials said ED investigators will soon get issued Letters Rogatories (judicial requests) for legal formalisation of the attachment of the foreign based asset. Choksi, his nephew and diamond jeweller Nirav Modi, and others are being probed under various criminal laws after the fraud came to light, following a complaint from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of over Rs 13,000 crore, with the purported involvement of some of its employees.
Both Choksi and Modi are absconding since the case was registered by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Choksi was last reported to be in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
“With this attachment, the value of attachment/seizure in the PNB scam is to the tune of of Rs 4,765 crore (approx). Further investigation is in process,” the ED said.

'Honour to meet you': Adar Poonawalla briefs Amit Shah on vaccine capacity

Former CECs say 8 phases of polling in WB must be due to law and order situation

Odisha orders 7-day home isolation for people coming from 11 states, Chandigarh
- The 11 states are Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Punjab, Delhi, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The union territory is Chandigarh.

Gadkari urges MSMEs to avail concessional finance and install rooftop solar

C'garh govt will bear cost of Covid-19 vaccination, says chief minister

PM Modi to inaugurate 1st digital toy fair on February 27: All you need to know

Workers block NH-16, call for bandh to protest privatisation of Vizag Steel
- Ignoring the continuous protests by the workers of the plant, the Centre has begun the exercise of disinvestment in the steel plant.

Health ministry says over 1.37 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses administered

In past 3 months, Feb registers highest number of travellers in India: Report
- According to the report, bookings surged in Goa for both February 15 and February 22 by over 20%.

'Together in fight against pandemic': PM Modi thanks WHO chief on Covax delivery

New rules for social media, OTT require right implementation: Nasscom

News updates from HT: Maharashtra records 8000 new cases of Covid-19
- Here are today’s top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Congress prepared for upcoming state elections, says KC Venugopal

India extends ban on international flights till March 31
