High court tells Nirav Modi's company to 'call back fugitive Nirav Modi'

The bench told Vijay Agrawal, the lawyer of Firearshar Diamond and Firestorm International, "If we do not emphasize the technical aspect, then Modi should be asked to come back."

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today asked the diamond trader Neerav Modi's company Firestar Diamond to call Modi back. The court termed Neerav Modi a fugitive The bench told Vijay Agrawal, the lawyer of Firearshar Diamond and Firestorm International, "If we do not emphasize the technical aspect, then Modi should be asked to come back." Expressing grave concern over the statement of Nirav Modi not coming to Indian agencies or courts, the Bench said, "According to the Enforcement Directorate, we are dealing with a fugitive. ''

The bench of Justice S. Murlidhar and Justice IS Mehta passed this order. Earlier, the company's advocate said that it should not be denied the relief on this technical basis that Firearms International has authorized the petitioners to file petitions to their subsidiary Firestar Diamond.

Enforcement Directorate has conducted raid and seizure of the company's property in the scandal involving more than Rs 11,000 crore of Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Additional Solicitor General Sandeep Sethi, who is present on the ED, and the Central Government's permanent lawyer Amit Mahajan said that no relief should be given to both the companies because Modi is fugitive from justice. He ran and is not involved in the investigation.

The bench said that the ED's argument is that Neerwa Modi is not being present before the agencies, in such a way his companies can not be given discretionary relief.

The bench gave this conclusion during the hearing of the petition of companies of Modi and Mehul Choksi. These companies had challenged the action against them under various provisions of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court has fixed the next date for hearing of the matter on May 3.