The Punjab National Bank (PNB) today suspended eight more employees in connection with the alleged fraudulent transactions case involving billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi. With this, the PNB has suspended 18 employees so far in connection with this case.
Meanwhile, the passport issuing authority of the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday suspended validity of passports of billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi, accused in PNB fraud case, for a period of four weeks.
Nirav, who is alleged to have carried out fraudulent transactions worth over Rs 11,400 crore in Punjab National Bank, had left the country on January 1, while his uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi, left on January 4.
The MEA suspended the passports of Nirav and Choksi on the advice of the Enforcement Directorate.
Both Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi have been asked to respond within one week as to why their passports should not be impounded or revoked, failing which MEA would go ahead with the revocation.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting searches today at 20 premises in 5 states. The premises belong to Choksi, who is also the Managing Director of 'Gitanjali Gems'.
