Court directs Immigration Bureau to ensure Nirav Modi’s brother-in-law’s smooth travel

A special court has directed the Bureau of Immigration to ensure smooth travel for Nirav Modi’s brother-in-law Maiank Mehta, who has turned an approver against the diamantaire in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud. Mehta was unable to travel to his home in Hong Kong recently as despite the court’s order, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was active against him.

The court in a detailed order of June 16 had permitted him to leave the country and had directed that any LOC against him be suspended for the purpose temporarily. Mehta had however, approached the court on Monday and informed it through his advocates about the active LOC due to which he was unable to travel.

He had returned to the country in September last year after the court had permitted him and his wife and Nirav Modi’s sister Purvi Modi to testify as prosecution witnesses against Nirav. Purvi is yet to return to India. The couple had been made Nirav’s co-accused in the case and had been absconding earlier.

An officer from Immigration Bureau was present before the court on Monday and had informed it that his office at Mumbai had received the order directing suspension of the LOC and had made necessary communication with the Delhi office. He had said that the Mumbai office had not received any information from Delhi about doing the needful. The bureau had later that day filed a response before the court.