CBI registers fresh case against Gitanjali Group

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a fresh case against Gitanjali Group, which is owned by Mehul Choksi, the uncle of ‘absconding’ diamond businessman Nirav Modi, for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 4,887 crore to the Punjab National Bank (PNB).

CBI teams conducted searches at 26 different locations of the private companies in five different states, including six locations in Mumbai. The ED on Friday also carried out further searches at 35 locations across India in its probe against the diamond businessman and seized diamonds, gold and jewellery worth Rs 549 crore (book value). The total seizures till now is Rs 5,649 crore by the ED.

The ED is probing the alleged money-laundering aspect after the CBI registered a case against Modi in Delhi after PNB approached the agency about the fraudulent transactions to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore, wherein loans were taken against fraudulent letters of undertaking.

Choksi flew out of the country on January 4, while Modi, his wife and brother left by January 6. The CBI has got Interpol diffusion notices issued to its member countries to determine their current locations.

The CBI registered a case against a managing director of a private company based at Walkeshwar. The case is against three Mumbai-based private companies and the 10 directors of the private companies based at various places, including Mumbai, Pune and Coimbatore. “Searches were conducted on Friday in five states at 26 locations at the official and residential premises of accused, including said private companies and their directors, factories and plants,” a CBI source said.

It was alleged in the complaint by PNB that is registered about three private Mumbai-based firms and their promoter/director in connivance with the thendeputy manager, PNB and other official had caused an alleged loss of  Rs 4,886.72 crore to the bank.