Get bank account info probed by CBI: SC to Nirav's kin

One-liner: The SC on Monday asked Mainak Mehta, the brother-in-law of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi who is an accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, to write to the banks where his accounts have been probed by the CBI and seek the statements of transactions.

Bank accounts frozen: Mehta told the court that his bank accounts, including those in Singapore, were frozen following a money-laundering probe launched by the ED.

• A bench told Mehta's counsel Amit Desai that his client should write to the banks, requesting for the statements of transactions for the period sought to be probed by the CBI

Bench direction: The bench said the details of all the communication with the banks should be shared with the investigating agency.

ASG statement: Representing the CBI, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju said even if the accounts are frozen, it does not preclude Mehta from seeking bank statements for the period being probed by the federal agency.

Hearing on Nov 14: The bench said it will allow Mehta to travel abroad once he furnishes the bank statements and posted the matter for hearing to Nov 14.

CBI plea: The court was hearing a CBI plea challenging an Aug 23 order of the Bombay HC that allowed Mehta to travel to Hong Kong and stay there for three months.

Non-disclosure: The CBI had earlier flagged issues with regard to the non-disclosure of transactions in bank accounts, including one based in Singapore, two transactions of $8.9 mn and $1.8 mn transferred by Modi's father.

Source: PTI