Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Mihir R Bhansali, an executive of the fugitive billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, in connection with the alleged $2 billion PNB money-laundering case, reported ANI. The notice issued by Interpol acts as an arrest warrant, mentioning Bhansali is required on charges of money laundering.
The RCN against Mihir Rashmi Bhansali, CEO of Nirav Modi’s jewellery firm Firestar Diamond Inc, was requested by the Enforcement Directorate. According to the report, Enforcement Directorate wants Mihir R Bhansali to take probe forward.
It had told the global police body that Bhansali was “likely” to travel to the US, the UK, Hong Kong, China or the UAE. In its RCN issued against a fugitive, the Interpol has already requested 192 member countries to arrest or detain Bhansali if spotted in their countries after which extradition or deportation proceedings can begin.
A similar Interpol notice was issued against Nirav Modi sometime back. But, he is still out of the country. Mihir Rashmi Bhansali is believed to be operating from the United States of America as part of the overseas operations of Firestar International.
The case pertains to cheating the state-run Punjab National Bank through the fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit worth over USD 2 billion (about Rs 13,000 crore) by Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, both absconding since the first week of January.
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