A Gujarat court on November 8 declared fugitive diamond jeweler Nirav Modi as a “proclaimed absconder” in a customs duty evasion case, which was filed in March and ordered him to appear in person before the court on November 15. The move could make it difficult for Modi to secure an anticipatory bail.
Modi is also a prime accused in Punjab National Bank fraud case.
A public notification was issued in newspapers, and also sent to police and other government departments, where Modi was declared proclaimed absconder under Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
In Surat, Chief Judicial Magistrate B.H. Kapadia accepted a plea made by the Customs Department on August 8 and asked Nirav Modi, to appear before the court.
The case was filed by Deputy Customs Commissioner RK Tiwary against Modi and three of his firms — Firestar Diamond International Pvt Ltd, Firestar International Pvt Ltd, and Radashir Jewellery Co Pvt Ltd.
