Interpol issues Red Corner Notice against Belgian national Purvi Modi, sister of Nirav Modi

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Sep 11, 2018

Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Purvi Modi, the sister of the fugitive jewellery tycoon Nirav Modi in connection with the alleged fraud at the Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Purvi Modi has been summoned to appear to the court of M S Azmi on September 25 along with her brother and owner of the eponymous jewellery brand Nirav Modi and other brother Neeshal Modi. Purvi Modi, who is a Belgian national, has not yet returned to India to stand trial for allegedly being part of one of the largest scale frauds in India’s banking history. Purvi Modi’s assets in India will be seized if she does not appear in court as directed. The move by Interpol sees Indian authorities closing in on those linked to the fraud.

The RCN was issued after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) petitioned Interpol. An RCN allows authorities to seek the location of a fugitive with a view to then attempting to deport them. The RCN issued against Modi by Interpol has requested its 192 member countries to arrest or detain Modi if she is residing there. After that, an extradition process can begin.

An RCN was also issued by Interpol against one of Nirav Modi’s aides, Mihir Bhansali, as part of the PNB case. Bhansali was the CEO of Modi’s Firestar International and is accused of playing a part in the fraud and the RCN was also requested by the ED. Nirav Modi had a RCN issued against him long ago but has still failed to return to India despite being summoned to court for September 25 with his siblings.