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Delhi HC wants fugitive Nirav Modi to return India
New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the company Firestar Diamond to ask fugitive jeweller Nirav Modi to return to the country.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a bench of Justices S. Muralidhar and I.S. Mehta that Modi is a “fugitive from justice.”
Additional Solicitor General Sandeep Sethi and central government standing counsel Amit Mahajan told the court that Modi is absconding and not joining the investigation and opposed the plea of Modi’s firm Firestar Diamond seeking relief.
The court was hearing two pleas filed by fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi’s firm Gitanjali Gems and billionaire Nirav Modi’s firm Firestar Diamond challenging the apparently illegal seizure of documents and articles by the probe agency in money laundering cases related to the multi-crore rupee Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.
The court directed the Firestar Diamonds’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal to ask Nirav Modi to return to the country. Aggarwal responded that he is handling the matter related to company and he did not know Modi’s whereabouts.
To which, the court said: “Oh, so you are blissfully unaware of all this.”
The court expressed serious concern on Modi’s statement that he will not submit to jurisdiction of Indian agencies or courts and said: “We are dealing with a fugitive here according to them (ED). A fugitive from justice stands on a different footing.”
The court listed all the matters for hearing on May 3 asking ED to file its response to the pleas moved by Gitanjali Gems and Firestar Diamonds against the agency proceedings.
Gitanjali Gems has challenged certain provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and called the ED’s action as “absurd” and not in accordance with the object and purpose of the PMLA.
The firm has also claimed that there was no connection of its property with the supposed proceeds of the crime.
Last month, Firestar Diamond moved the court seeking that the seizure of movable properties of Nirav Modi and depositing these with the PNB be quashed.
Diamond jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi have 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.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
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.