3 weeks ago
CBI Court Rejects Nirav Modi's Sister Purvi Mehta's Video Plea
Nirav Modi is a businessman suspected of being involved in a very big bank fraud in India.
His sister, Purvi Mehta, is also part of the case.
She lives in Belgium and the police say she helped with the fraud.
Purvi asked the court if she could give her statement over a video call instead of flying to India.
She also asked to be forgiven for her part in the case so she could help the police.
The police agency called the CBI said no.
They said that because she is accused of a crime, she must come to court in person.
The judge agreed and rejected her video call request.
He said serious cases need deep questioning, which is hard to do over a video call.
The court has already allowed her husband, Maiank, to help the investigation instead of being treated only as an accused.
A special CBI court in Mumbai rejected Purvi Mehta's plea to record her statement via video conferencing in the PNB fraud case, insisting on her physical presence.
Mehta, Nirav Modi's sister and a Belgian national, had sought to turn approver and pleaded for a pardon in the case registered against her brother.
Special CBI Judge S.K. Karhale said detailed interrogation in serious cases may not be possible through video conferencing and noted Mehta never turned up before any agency.
The court observed that Mehta was made an approver in the ED's money-laundering case on condition she return to India, but cited the pandemic for more than five years without a bona fide effort to appear.
The CBI alleged about USD 30 million from LoU funds was routed through UAE-based Pacific Diamond FZE to Maiank, who has been made an approver, and then to Purvi's account as 'gifts'.
- Who
- Purvi Mehta, Nirav Modi's sister and a Belgian national; her husband Maiank; the CBI; and the special CBI court in Mumbai, presided over by Judge S.K. Karhale.
- What
- The special CBI court rejected Purvi Mehta's plea to record her statement via video conferencing in the PNB fraud case; she had sought to turn approver and be granted a pardon. One report noted the detailed written order was yet to be made available.
- Where
- Mumbai, India, at the special CBI court; funds were allegedly routed through UAE-based Pacific Diamond FZE, Syndicate Bank (London), and Ratnakar Bank.
- When
- Monday, August 10, 2026, for the court decision; alleged transactions occurred between November 13 and November 26, 2013.
- Why
- Purvi wanted to testify remotely and seek a pardon to become an approver, but the CBI argued that as an accused she cannot choose her mode of appearance; the court held that detailed interrogation in a serious case requires physical presence.
Purvi Mehta's Position
CBI's Position
Mode of recording statement
Purvi Mehta's Position
Purvi sought to record her statement via video conferencing; her counsel argued the CBI's approach was not fair or progressive and that she was willing to cooperate remotely.
CBI's Position
The CBI insisted on her physical presence before the court, arguing that video conferencing is only an enabling provision, not a facility that can be claimed as a right, and that as an accused she cannot choose her mode of appearance.
Approver status and pardon
Purvi Mehta's Position
Purvi pleaded to turn approver and be granted a pardon in the case registered against her brother, expressing willingness to cooperate.
CBI's Position
The CBI called Purvi a beneficiary of the fraud against PNB, opposed her request, and asked the court to take cognisance of the chargesheet filed against her and the other accused.
Key facts
- Case
- Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case
- Court
- Special CBI Court, Mumbai
- Judge
- Special CBI Judge S.K. Karhale
- Ruling
- Plea for video-conferencing testimony rejected; physical presence required
- Applicant
- Purvi Mehta, Nirav Modi's sister and Belgian national
- Approver status
- Purvi sought approver status and pardon; her husband Maiank made approver
- Alleged transfer to Maiank
- Approximately USD 30 million from Pacific Diamond FZE
- Syndicate Bank deposits
- Approximately USD 19.999985 million created on November 15, 2013
Quotes
Special CBI Judge S.K. Karhale
Judge of the special CBI court in Mumbai handling the Nirav Modi fraud case
“Mehta is a proposed accused and she is not a witness or approver. Her presence in this case is imperative for the purpose of confrontation with voluminous documents, accounts, entries, transactions, etc., which require detailed interrogation. This kind of interrogation in serious cases like this may not be possible through V.C.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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