US won't confirm reports of Nirav Modi being in the country
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WASHINGTON: The United States government is aware of media reports that diamond jeweller Nirav Modi is in the country but is unable to confirm them, a state department official said on Thursday.
"We are aware of recent media reports that Nirav Modi is in the United States but cannot confirm them," the spokesperson said when asked about reports that the Indian businessman is in New York.
Asked if the department is providing any assistance to the Indian government in tracing Modi, the spokesperson said, "We refer you to the department of justice for questions on legal assistance to the Indian authorities in relation to their investigation of Mr. Modi".
The department of justice declined to comment on Modi.
Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies following a complaint by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of over Rs 12,000 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.
They allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from its Brady House branch in Fort area for overseas credit from other lenders.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have registered two FIRs each in this case.