I/VI. Who's Nirav Modi? Apart from being a filthy rich diamond merchant and, thereby, a member of the Indian delegation to Davos, WEF 2018, led by Indian Prime Minister (another) Modi and, of course, a scamster of the very highest order? What are his family connections?
<<Since Punjab National Bank's scam revolving around Nirav Modi has caught the attention of the country, more details about celebrity diamond merchant's are coming out. The beleagured owner of the global diamond jewellery house has shared a strong bond with chairman of Reliance Industries Mukes Ambani. The brother of Nirav Modi , Neeshal Modi, is married to Isheta Salgaonkar. She is niece of billionaire Ambani brothers (Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani). Isheta is the daughter of prominent Goa industrialist Dattaraj Salgaonkar. Dattaraj Salgaonkar is the husband of Mukesh Ambani's sister Dipti. Isheta and Neesha's engagement was held at the Trident in Mumbai. Their star-studded pre-wedding party was initiated by Mukesh Ambani himself at his Mumbai's Antilia House. Neeshal was making big alongside his brother Nirav in the diamond business with the guidance of their maternal uncle Mehul Choksi, who owns the famous Gitanjali Gems. Modi, a designated partner in four enterprises: Neeshal Enterprises LLP, Paragon Jewellery LLP, Paragon Merchandising LLP and Panchajanya Diamonds LLP made it big for the first time in the year 1999 when he established Firestar Diamond. Neesha's brother, Nirav Modi is involved in alleged Rs 11000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.>> (Source: < https://www.oneindia.com/india/pnb-scam-accused-nirav-modis-brother-is-married-to-ambanis-niece-2642638.html >.) II/IV. What's the size of the of the scam? <<The scale of the latest scam to hit the Indian banking system is staggering. Punjab National Bank revealed this week that it had detected fraudulent transactions worth more than Rs 11,380 crore in a Mumbai branch. That amount is nearly double the amount of money the government infused into the bank, India’s second-largest public lender, to help cover its non-performing assets problem. It was one-third of the bank’s entire market capitalisation at the time when it was reported. It is also equivalent to 8.5 times the bank’s profit for financial year 2016-17. By any measure, the magnitude of this alleged crime is massive.>> (Source: < https://scroll.in/article/868825/explained-how-did-the-alleged-rs-11000-crore-nirav-modi-punjab-national-bank-scam-go-unnoticed >.) III/VI. The size of the scam has further escalated (by another Rs. 3.000 crore over and above Rs. 11,300 crore) <<As investigating agencies pore over documents seized from premises connected to jewellery czar Nirav Modi in connection with the Rs 11,000-crore alleged fraud in Punjab National Bank, evidence has emerged of an additional Rs 3,000 crore worth of exposure of 17 banks; rolling over of the same Letters of Understanding (LoUs) many times and alleged round-tripping of funds. Sources said that as many as 17 banks lent about Rs 3,000 crore to various firms of Nirav Modi, including his flagship firm Firestar International Ltd. These include, besides PNB, Cenral Bank of India (Rs 194 crore), Dena Bank (Rs 153.25 crore), Vijaya Bank (Rs 150.15 crore), Bank of India (Rs 127 crore), Syndicate Bank (Rs 125 crore), Oriental Bank of Commerce (Rs 120 crore), Union Bank of India (Rs 110 crore) and IDBI Bank and Allahabad Bank (Rs 100 crore each).>> (Source: < http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pnb-fraud-expands-rs-3000-crore-more-from-17-banks-money-laundering-evidence-nirav-modi-5065807/ >.) IV/VI. Sensational allegation against the PMO AA. https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/nirav-modi-fled-to-switzeraland-pnb-scam-rapid-developments-disclosures-counter-allegations-opposition-bjp PMO got complaint against Nirav Modi in July 2016; PNB says it discovered fraud in Jan 2018NH Web Desk NH WEB DESK Published: Feb 15th 2018, 04.54 PM 2.848 K Engagements Nirav Modi (highlighted in blue), an accused in the Punjab National Bank fraud case, pictured along with other CEOs and Prime Minister Narendra in Davos, Switzerland on January 23, 2018 Photo courtesy: Twitter.com/GauravGogoiAsm An intriguing tweet from February 6... News that PMO had received a complaint against Nirav Modi in July, 2016... An accused who fled before FIR was filed… Updates on Nirav Modi and the PNB fraud On February 6, few in the country new much about Nirav Modi beyond billboards advertising his jewellery. On that day, a team of analysts tweeting from the handle @BrainandMoney put out this intriguing tweet: “Hearing from our Bookies big scam of Rs 9200 crore coming in #PNB. Big Bank official told us now.................... Will it come Tomorrow or Day after ? Let's see”. Third Eye View @BrainandMoney Hearing from our Bookies big scam of Rs 9200 crore coming in #PNB Big Bank official told us now.................... Will it come Tomorrow or Day after ? Let's see 2:33 PM - Feb 6, 2018 64 59 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Eight days later, on February 14, India’s second largest public sector bank Punjab National Bank said in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges, that it had detected a massive fraud in one of its branches in Mumbai, “for the benefit of a few select account holders with their apparent connivance”. PNB said the quantum of such transactions was to the tune of a whopping $1,771.69 million (around ₹11,515 crore). The amount of fraudulent transactions is equivalent to eight times the bank's net income of about ₹1,320 crore ($206 million). The bank said that: "The matter is already referred to law enforcement agencies to examine and book the culprits as per law of the land."It turned out that on February 5, the Central Bureau of Investigation had booked billionaire diamond service provider Nirav Modi, his brother, wife and a business partner for allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy with the officials of Punjab National Bank to cheat PNB of over ₹280.70 crore in 2017. Following the complaint, the CBI registered an FIR under Indian Penal Code sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the four.The stock of Punjab National Bank, which was trading at ₹149.20 per share on February 14 morning, was down by 12.79% on the Bombay Stock Exchange, by the time of writing on February 15. Spate of new developments on PNB-Nirav Modi case on February 15A flurry of new facts about the case emerged on Thursday, February 15.First, the Enforcement Directorate in the early morning swooped down on multiple premises in Mumbai, Surat and Delhi belonging to Nirav Modi and other persons accused in the case. The ED had filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after going through the CBI FIR.It emerged that the CBI had also raided the residence of Modi, his brother Nishal, wife Ami and Mehul Chinubhai Choksi, all partners of Diamond R US, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds and two bank officials—Gokulnath Shetty (now retired) and Manoj Kharat, who were also named in the FIR as accused. On February 14, the CBI received two fresh complaints from PNB allegedly against Modi and a jewellery company alleging fraudulent transactions worth about ₹11,400 crore.Then, CNN News 18 quoting Enforcement Directorate sources, said that Nirav Modi was not in the country, but in Switzerland. The media house tweeted further that Nirav Modi had in fact fled India before the first CBI FIR was filed on Jan 31. Soon ANI, quoting “official sources”, reported that Nirav Modi left the country on January 1, 2018.Later on February 15, PNB MD Sunil Mehta, addressing the media, said that the scam had begun in 2011, was detected by PNB only in the third week of January 2018, and the CBI was informed in February.Shortly after, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was telling CNN that this scam began during the “UPA regime”. News18 ✔ @CNNnews18 #BigBankScam | All this loot happened during UPA regime. We have brought this out and action will be taken: Nirmala Sitharaman #LIVE: http://www.news18.com/news/india/punjab-national-bank-scam-live-updates-md-sunil-mehta-says-nirav-modi-has-come-up-with-vague-offers-pnb-stocks-slide-1661195.html … 3:20 PM - Feb 15, 2018 28 38 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy If that were so, it leads to the obvious question of why it took seven long years for PNB to detect a fraud on this scale. And why was someone as senior as the Defence Minister being sent out to try and pin the blame for the PNB scam on the UPA government? Was someone somewhere panicking, and trying to deflect blame?Soon, a possible reason for the panic became clear. PNB says it discovered scam only in January 2018; News reports and Congress leader says PMO was informed about a complaint against Nirav Modi in July, 2016Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that ”On July 26, 2016, PM was handed with all papers regarding Nirav Modi and one of his relatives. It was said that complaint had 42 FIRs. PMO acknowledged the complaint, they also sent registrar of companies to take some action. But in the end the govt couldn't do anything. How can Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi dupe the entire banking system through forged Letters of Understanding under the nose of Modi govt? Who is responsible for biggest bank loot scam unleashed by chhota Modi?”A CNN News18 tweet seemed to confirm Surjewala’s charge about the PMO receiving a complaint: News18 ✔ @CNNnews18 #BREAKING | CNN-News18 has accessed complainant letter to PMO on Nirav Modi. Complainant received acknowledgment from PMO over letter in 2016 | @Ashish_Mehrishi with details. #BigBankScam 3:37 PM - Feb 15, 2018 843 911 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy National Herald has not seen the complaint to the PMO and is unaware if it relates directly to Punjab National Bank, or to some other allegations against Nirav Modi.Congress and other Opposition leaders, however, lost no time in accusing the government of enabling Nirav Modi to flee.Congress President Rahul Gandhi said diamond merchant Nirav Modi's Rs 11,500 crore fraud in the country's second-biggest state-run bank was a guide to "looting India", which involves getting closer to and hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then slipping away from the country, like liquor baron Vijay Mallya."Guide to looting India by Nirav Modi. Hug PM Modi. Be seen with him in Davos. Use that clout to: steal 12,000 crore. Slip out of the country like Mallya while the government looks the other way," Gandhi tweeted. Office of RG ✔ @OfficeOfRG Guide to Looting India by Nirav MODI 1. Hug PM Modi 2. Be seen with him in DAVOS Use that clout to: A. Steal 12,000Cr B. Slip out of the country like Mallya, while the Govt looks the other way. #From1MODI2another 2:01 PM - Feb 15, 2018 27.2K 18.5K people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Gandhi's tweet came after Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi posted a picture of Prime Minister Modi with Indian CEOs at the World Economic Forum in Davos, taken on January 23, 2018. The fugitive diamond merchant is seen in the group photo standing in the second row, with Prime Minister Modi seated in the centre of the first row. "What criteria does the Prime Minister use to select the CEOs accompanying him on foreign trips," Gogoi asked in his tweet. View image on Twitter Gaurav Gogoi ✔ @GauravGogoiAsm What criteria does the Prime Minister use to select the CEOs accompanying him on foreign trips? #NiravModi #PNBScam 1:42 PM - Feb 15, 2018 497 291 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy But Minister of State for finance SP Shukla replied that “We were not in govt in 2011, if Congress is making allegations, were they sleeping from 2011-14? They should've probed it. This govt is taking cognizance of matters & probing them.”CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury posted the same picture, pointing out that the businessman Modi may be in Switzerland where he went with Prime Minister Modi."If this person had fled India before the FIR on January 31, then he is here, photographed at Davos with the PM, a week before the FIR, after having escaped from India? Modi govt must clarify," Yechury said, adding that "There is a pattern in how people who have defrauded banks in India, are allowed to escape by the Modi government." View image on Twitter Sitaram Yechury ✔ @SitaramYechury If this person had fled India before the FIR on Jan 31, then he is here, photographed at Davos with PM, a week before the FIR, after having escaped from India? Modi govt must clarify. #NiravModi #PublicMoneyLoot 1:04 PM - Feb 15, 2018 2,766 2,160 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Sitaram Yechury ✔ @SitaramYechury There is a pattern in how people who have defrauded Banks in India, are allowed to escape by the Modi govt https://twitter.com/zakka_jacob/status/964017138041155584 … 12:59 PM - Feb 15, 2018 426 229 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Modi government of helping the prime accused in the PNB fraud, Nirav Modi, to flee from India. "Is it possible to believe that he or Vijay Mallya left the country without active connivance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (government)?" the Aam Aadmi Party leader asked in a tweet. Arvind Kejriwal ✔ @ArvindKejriwal Is it possible to believe that he or vijay mallya left the country without active connivance of BJP govt? https://twitter.com/rupashreenanda/status/964018764793528320 … 11:59 AM - Feb 15, 2018 5,544 3,626 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee quickly followed, saying “Look what happened at Punjab National Bank ? A scam of more than Rs 11,000 crore. People's savings are not safe. There must be a thorough, time bound enquiry.” Mamata Banerjee ✔ @MamataOfficial Look what happened at Punjab National Bank ? A scam of more than Rs 11,000 crore. People's savings are not safe. There must be a thorough, time bound enquiry 2:46 PM - Feb 15, 2018 2,958 986 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Watch this space for further developments on the PNB Scam—and who all are responsible.With IANS inputs. BB. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/didnt-get-response-from-ed-cbi-man-who-informed-pmo-about-nirav-modi-scam/articleshow/62934656.cms Didn't get response from ED, CBI: Man who 'informed' PMO about Nirav Modi scam TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Feb 15, 2018, 23:19 IST HIGHLIGHTS Hari Prasad SV, the man who Congress says informed PMO about the alleged fraud by Nirav Modi in July 2016, said he approached ED, CBI and several other bodies against the accused but to no avail He claimed that he had opened a franchise store with Mehul Choksi, the MD of the Gitanjali Group, with an investment of Rs 10 crore Hari Prasad SV. (Image: ANI)Hari Prasad SV. (Image: ANI) NEW DELHI: Hari Prasad SV, the man who Congress says informed the Prime Minister's Office+ about the alleged fraud perpetrated by billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi in July 2016, today said that he approached the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and several other bodies against the accused but to no avail, reported ANI. "Wrote to PMO in 2016 requesting them to undertake detailed investigation in the matter after we did not get any response from ED, CBI, SEBI, and Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Later, I got a mail from RoC that my case is closed," ANI quoted the Bengaluru jeweller as saying. PNB fraud: Nirav Modi left India with family in first week of January He claimed that he had opened a franchise store with Mehul Choksi, the MD of Gitanjali Group, with an investment of Rs 10 crore. "As per the agreement, he was supposed to give us gold worth Rs 10 crore but he gave us gold worth Rs 5 crore only. We finally filed two FIRs against him," Prasad said. The Congress had earlier today attacked the PM+ for failing to take timely action against Nirav Modi. "Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, was made aware of this entire fraud by one Shri Hari Prasad by way of a written complaint filed on 26th July, 2016 and acknowledged by PMO," said party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, adding that "no action was taken" and the "bank lost the money and the accused escaped." Nirav Modi, his wife, brother, and business partner Mehul Choksi were booked by the CBI on January 31, for allegedly cheating state-run Punjab National Bank of Rs 280 crore. TOP COMMENT This might be a scumgress ploy to plant a so-called complainant who alleges to have informed everyone while in reality nothing may have happened and the loot initiated during scumgress days was ... Read More The Moon Sailor The bank later sent two more complaints to the CBI, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore. (With inputs from agencies) CC http://www.abplive.in/india-news/pnb-fraud-former-allahabad-bank-director-says-scam-started-under-upa-grew-50-folds-during-nda-652374 PNB Scam: Former Allahabad Bank Director says scam started under UPA, grew 50 folds during NDA Dinesh Dubey also said that he was being pressurized to give loan so he resigned By: Kirti Joshi || Updated: 16 Feb 2018 08:19 PM NEW DELHI: A former official of the Allahabad Bank on Friday alleged that the Nirav Modi scam started during the UPA government. The official, Dinesh Dubey, said, "I had sent a dissent note against Gitanjali Gems to the Govt and RBI in 2013 but to no avail, I was directed that this loan has to be approved, I was being pressurized so I resigned. I had sent a dissent note against #GitanjaliGems to the Govt and RBI in 2013 but to no avail, I was directed that this loan has to be approved, I was being pressurized so I resigned: Dinesh Dubey,former Allahabad Bank Director pic.twitter.com/yMqxiYWw7X — ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2018 UPA Sarkar se chala hua aaya kand aaj NDA sarkar mein 10 guna, 50 guna badh gaya: Dinesh Dubey,former Allahabad Bank Director #GitanjaliGems #MehulChoksi pic.twitter.com/ZKk4dDa4kn — ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2018 Commenting on Dubey’s statement, Rajiv Takru, Former Banking Secy said, "I met this person only once in my life.He had come to my office to resign in 2013. The reason for resignation was that he was unhappy over something. I accepted his resignation. I have never spoken to him." I met this person only once in my life.He had come to my office to resign in 2013. Reason behind resignation was that he was unhappy over something. I accepted his resignation. I have never spoken to him: Rajiv Takru, Former Banking Secy on ex-Allahabad Bank Director Dinesh Dubey — ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2018 Snipped V/VI. AA. When did Nirav Modi and his kin leave India? CBI Version <<* In a related development, the CBI officials said Modi and other members of his family, who fled the country last month, allegedly made fraudulent transactions of over Rs 11,400 crore through 150 letters of understanding issued by the bank. * Modi, who holds an Indian passport, left India on January 1, while his brother Nishal, a Belgian citizen, also left the country on same day. However, whether they travelled together has to be probed, they said. Modi's wife Ami, a US citizen, left on January 6 and his uncle Choksi departed on January 4, the officials said.>> (Source:< https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pnb-fraud-case-cbi-says-nirav-modi-left-india-on-january-1-top-developments-1170525-2018-02-16 >.) BB. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nirav-modi-live-updates-ndtv-traces-nirav-modi-main-accused-in-multi-crore-bank-fraud-to-upscale-new-1813361 PNB Fraud LIVE Updates: We Don't Know Where Nirav Modi Is, Says MEA Spokesperson Nirav Modi Latest Updates: The billionaire jewellery designer has been a regular on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013. Nirav Modi was first booked by the CBI, along with his wife Ami, brother Nishal and business partner and uncle Mehul Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating state-run Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs. 280 crore. The bank -- PNB -- again approached the CBI within a fortnight of the first complaint giving details of more fraudulent transactions of over Rs. 11,300 crore. All India | Edited by Abhishek Chakraborty | Updated: February 16, 2018 17:28 IST ... Sources have confirmed to NDTV that Nirav Modi, the main accused in alleged fraudulent transactions of over Rs. 11,300 crore through 150 letters of understanding issued by Punjab National Bank, has been discreetly living at New York's JW Marriott Essex House at 160 Central Park South, which includes both a hotel and apartments. The section where Nirav Modi has been living is situated in a premier location overlooking New York's well known Central Park. Nirav Modi, who holds an Indian passport, left India on January 1, while his brother Nishal, a Belgian citizen, left the country on the same day. However, whether they travelled together has to be investigated. Nirav Modi's wife Ami, a US citizen, also left on January 6 and his uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali jewellery chain, left on January 4, the officials said. ... Feb 16, 2018 17:28 (IST) Replying to a question by a reporter during a press conference today about the PNB Fraud, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "I thing you are asking the wrong person. We come into the picture only when we are advised by the agencies." "We do not know where Nirav Modi is. We aren't in touch with him." Snipped VI. When did Nirav Modi appear in Davos in compny of the Indian Prime Minissster Modi? <<Here is a group photo from Jan. 23, of the prime minister, some of his key bureaucrats, and Indian CEOs, including Nirav Modi (in red circle) at the world’s biggest capitalist conclave in Switzerland: [Group Photograph: Modi & Modi] PNB-Nirav-Modi-Fraud Nirav Modi at Davos. (PIB) He was also part of the 2016 delegation to Davos led by finance minister Arun Jaitley.>> (Source: < https://qz.com/1208133/punjab-national-bank-fraud-nirav-modi-accused-of-swindling-1-8-billion-was-with-narendra-modi-at-davos-just-weeks-ago/ >.) VI. A Useful summing up http://www.atimes.com/article/indian-pms-office-alerted-alleged-bank-scam-2016/ Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the World Economic Forum in Davos with key accused Nirav Modi. INDIA INVESTIGATION Indian PM’s Office alerted to alleged bank scam in 2016 A businessman had told the Prime Minister's Office about the alleged US$1.7 billion bank fraud but the accused still met the Prime Minister in Davos By SAIKAT DATTA FEBRUARY 16, 2018 12:42 AM (UTC+8) A massive Rs 11o billion (US$ 1.7 billion) fraud case is threatening to undermine India’s banking system and proving to be an embarrassment for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The case came to light after a Mumbai branch of the public sector Punjab National Bank (PNB) discovered allegedly fraudulent transfers taking place. According to the police complaint filed by the bank, two junior employees issued Letters of Undertaking (LoU) to various companies of the Nirav Modi group. The company’s largest partner, Nirav Modi, is a Gujarati businessman who ran a large jewelry business. The LoUs were issued without any security, enabling the companies to withdraw money from international branches of other Indian banks. But while the complaint was filed by the bank in the last week of January this year, the Prime Minister’s Office was alerted to the alleged fraud nearly two years ago. The revelation has become a major embarrassment for the Prime Minister and the BJP government. Accused meets Indian Prime Minister Nirav Modi and a relative, Mehul Choksi, both stand accused of defrauding the bank with the connivance of officials. Before the complaint could be acted upon, Modi and his relatives fled India. But what has come back to haunt the Prime Minister is a photograph of Nirav Modi participating in an official meeting of chief executive officers at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month. Nirav is seen standing in the second line, behind the Prime Minister, just days before the official police complaint was filed by the bank. This picture was also tweeted by the spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), soon after the meeting. The scandal could have grave consequences for India’s already-stressed banking sector. PNB, which issued the LoUs, will now have to reimburse the banks that honored them, potentially causing severe stress to PNB’s balance sheets. If it fails to pay, the other exposed banks could suffer large losses. In the third quarter, some of these banks have already declared losses due to a rise in non-performing assets. While the government desperately tried to explain the situation, a potentially more disturbing revelation has come to light. ‘PMO was alerted’ A businessman, Hari Prasad, had alerted the government to the alleged fraud nearly two years ago. Speaking to Asia Times over the phone, he detailed how he came to know of the supposed financial misconduct. “I had entered into a business with Nirav Modi and Mehul Chokshi as a franchisee of their jewelry business in 2012. I invested about Rs 100 million and they were supposed to underwrite my investment with material worth Rs 250 million. However, for nearly a year I did not get anything,” he alleged, explaining that the diamonds and other gems he expected to receive as part of the agreement did not arrive. IMG_20180215_193639 Screen grab of an email sent by businessman and whistleblower Hari Prasad alerting the government to the alleged wrongdoing. Prasad waited several months for the gems to arrive but to no avail. He tried to contact the accused but neither responded. He waited two years in hope of recovering his investment before he filed a complaint with Bengaluru police. When police failed to respond, he filed a second complaint that also did not produce results. After studying the company’s balance sheets, Prasad deduced that the company was involved in a massive ponzi scheme, he alleged to Asia Times. Prasad sent complaints to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which, ironically, has now taken up the case following the complaint from the PNB. Since he did not get a response, he also wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which, for inexplicable reasons, forwarded the complaint to the Registrar of Companies (RoC). Incidentally, the Prime Minister is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Training, which in turn has administrative control over the CBI. “The RoC closed the complaint without even asking me for any evidence,” Prasad said. Weak Defense by Government In an attempt to defend the Prime Minister’s meeting with Nirav Modi in Davos last month, his cabinet colleague and minister, Ravishankar Prasad held a press conference alleging that the fraud was initiated during the previous regime. It has now emerged, however, that Hari Prasad had indeed informed the current government and the Prime Minister’s Office about the allegedly fraudulent scheme. At the press conference, it was stressed that the picture of Nirav Modi with the Prime Minister was a coincidence. However, two former diplomats Asia Times spoke to, rejected that claim. “As per protocol, it is impossible for anyone to participate in a photo-op with the Prime Minister without previous clearance and sanction,” a former Secretary-rank diplomat said on the condition of anonymity. “The picture was arranged and there are other pictures, which shows the chairs were lined up for this group picture. These other pictures also show the Prime Minister shaking hands with the CEOs, which makes it an official function. Under no circumstances could this have been a coincidence.” A Press Trust of India report, issued by India’s largest press agency on January 14 states that the union finance minister, Arun Jaitley, was traveling to Davos for the WEF with a “100-strong Indian delegation” with prominent businessmen. Nirav Modi is named as one of them. The case could also prove to be an embarrassment for India’s richest industrialist, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries Limited. His sister’s daughter, Isheta, is married to Nirav Modi’s younger brother, Nishal Modi, who has also been named in the PNB case. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. 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