PNB Fraud Case: CBI Court Grants Pardon to Nirav Modi's Brother-in-Law Maiank Mehta, Makes Him Approver

In a significant development in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, a special CBI court in Mumbai has granted a full pardon to Maiank Mehta, the brother-in-law of fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, paving the way for him to become an approver. Special CBI Judge A V Gujarathi passed the order on September 22 which was made public on Friday."Application of the applicant No. 33 Maiank Mehta in C.B.I. Spl.Case Nos.37/2018 and 49/2019 (supplementary chargesheet) for grant of tender of pardon under Sections 343 and 344 of BNSS is allowed, on condition of making full and true disclosure of the whole of the circumstances within knowledge relative to offence and every other person concerned, and accused shall be marked as approver in this case,"

the court said.Also Read: Nirav Modi Files Fresh Plea in UK Court Against Extradition to IndiaThe court directed Mehta, currently living abroad, to appear before it during proceedings. "The accused is at present staying abroad, who shall be directed to present himself before the Court, for which purpose the prosecution shall take necessary steps to facilitate the approach of accused to India to take part in the proceeding as soon as may be, in the facts and circumstances prevailing currently," the order added.Mehta, a British national and Hong Kong resident for 35 years, was earlier arraigned as an accused in the CBI case under sections of criminal conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, and the Prevention of Corruption Act.In his application, Mehta said he was ready to make a "full and true disclosure" of circumstances within his knowledge. He noted that he had already been granted a pardon in related money laundering cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate, where his wife Poorvi Mehta -- Nirav Modi's sister -- had also received similar relief."Mainak Mehta came to India in the month of September-2021 voluntarily to participate in the proceedings. He has assisted the prosecution and the Government of India in multiple aspects. The applicant and his wife have assisted the prosecution agencies to facilitate attachment and confiscation of assets in favour of Government of India. During the course of investigation the present applicant/accused is arraigned as an accused. He has co-operated with the investigation. He is ready to make full and true disclosure of the circumstances within his knowledge relating to the matter and is ready to abide by the conditions imposed by the Court in pursuance of the pardon. Therefore, he prayed to allow the application," the order said.Also Read: The Fall of Nirav Modi: From Forbes Rich List To Financial Ruin — His Bank Balance Today Will Shock YouThe prosecution, represented by public prosecutor Arvind Aghav, did not oppose the plea, acknowledging that Mehta had already been pardoned in Enforcement Directorate cases involving the same predicate offences.

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Absconding diamantaire Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi remain are prime accused in the multi-crore PNB (Punjab National Bank) scam, being probed by both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Investigators allege more than Rs 13,000 crore was siphoned off from the bank by fraudulently obtaining Letters of Undertaking and foreign letters of credit. Nirav Modi is currently in a London jail, fighting extradition, while Choksi faces proceedings in a Belgian court.