PNB Fraud Probe: CBI Finds Crucial Nirav Modi’s Documents In Largest Law Firm Of India

Mumbai/New Delhi: When a single thread is caught hold of and pulled, then others too come out along with it. Yes, this is the case with PNB Scam mastered by Nirav Modi, the jeweler biz icon turned fugitive. First the news was about him and his uncle Mehul Chowksi, and some relatives. But now, its all about a ‘legal firm’, that too, which is ranked top and largest in our country.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas or CAM, the largest law firm in India is under the scanner now and is being scruntinised by probe agencies. Several important documents related to the Rs. 13,000 crore fraud of state-run Punjab National Bank were discovered in CAM’s premises in February, according to a lawyer from the government side and a police source.

In January this year, Punjab National Bank alleged that the diamond jeweler and billionaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi had raised billions of dollars for years in fraudulent way in the form of foreign credit by bribing and conspiring with the bank’s staff.

And in the month of February, the CAM’s office received cartons packed with documents from Nirav Modi’s aides who sent it from one of his diamond firm’s offices in Mumbai. And it was here at CAM’s office that the police discovered and seized all of the documents within a week on February 1, as per the review of the Central Bureau of Investigation’ court filings and witness testimonies.

According to the details provided by K Raghavacharyulu, who is a prosecution lawyer in the Nirav Modi case and two CBI sources who wanted to be anonymous, said that CAM possessed documents with details of Mr. Modi’s dealings with PNB. But the fact is, the firm was not at all representing the diamond magnate or any of his companies.

“CAM was not their attorney in the PNB fraud case, 100 per cent sure… that’s why they could not cite attorney-client privilege,” Mr Raghavacharyulu said, while adding further that all his assessment was wholly based on regular briefings he got from CBI investigating officers.

When inquired, CAM declined to comment over the issue of its relationship with Nirav Modi, who has turned fugitive and overseas as of now. The firm’s spokeswoman, Madhumita Paul, said that the firm “strictly follows the legal best practices and does not comment on matters that are sub-judice or are under investigation”.

The Central Bureau of Intelligence agency said that its first charge sheet in the month of may in relation to the fraud case against Nirav Modi and others said that “incriminating documents/articles relevant to the case” were found to be concealed in the CAM’s office. As of now, there were no charges against the law firm and it was not even named as a witness in the case.

At after that, as per the statement of Mr. Raghavacharyulu, police did not interview any of the official from CAM for the case, but according to one of the CBI sources, before the agency filed the first chargesheet, police summoned, questioned and recorded the statement given by at least one junior lawyer of CAM.

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