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PNB fraud: Gitanjali Group VP sent to police custody, ED to issue LRs to over 15 countries (Roundup)

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New Delhi/Mumbai, March 6 (IANS) A Mumbai court on Tuesday sent the Vice President of Banking Operations of Mehul Choksi’s Gitanjali Group, Vipul Chitalia — who was arrested in connection with CBI’s ongoing probe into the multi-crore PNB fraud case — to police custody till March 17, officials said.

In a related development, the Enforcement Directorate, which is also probing the Rs 12,600-crore Punjab National bank (PNB) fraud case, has decided to send Letters Rogatory (LRs) to over 15 countries against diamond jeweller Nirav Modi and Choksi.

“Vipul Chitalia was arrested by the agency officials after a brief questioning. He was produced before a court which sent him to police custody till March 17,” a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official told IANS in Delhi.

Earlier in the morning, he was taken away from the Mumbai airport by the CBI, soon after he landed in the city.

The CBI official also said that Chitalia had fled the country along with Nirav Modi in January this year.

According to CBI officials, he was allegedly responsible for handling unauthorised letters of undertaking (LoUs) and letters of credit and maintaining contact with bank officials.

The agency official also said that they have questioned four more treasury department officials of General Manager and Assistant General Manager rank of the bank.

Choksi, along with Nirav Modi, has been accused of defrauding the PNB of Rs 12,600 crore, with Rs 1,300 crore being added to the fraud kitty on February 26.

The CBI had filed the first FIR in the scam on February 14 against Nirav Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal, uncle Choksi and his firms Diamond R US, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamond.

Modi, his family and Choksi had left the country in early January.

The CBI filed a second FIR on February 15 over a Rs 4,886.72-crore fraud against Choksi’s Gitanjali Group.

An ED officials said that the Directorate will issue LRs to over 15 countries against Nirav Modi and Choksi.

He said that the agency would be sending the LRs to countries like the United States, the UK, the UAE, Hong kong, Singapore, South Africa and others where their companies had spread their businesses.

On Saturday, an anti-money laundering court in Mumbai had issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against absconder diamantaires Nirav Modi and Choksi.

Meanwhile, a Mumbai special court on Monday permitted the ED to issue LRs to six countries for identifying and seizing properties of the absconding diamond traders.

To date, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out searches at over 198 locations across the country and seized properties worth nearly Rs 6,000 crore, while the CBI has arrested at least 19 persons in the case so far.

–IANS
aks/nir

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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