‘Destroyed evidence’: Who is Nehal Modi? Nirav Modi’s brother held in US on India’s request; how is he linked to PNB scam case – OXBIG NEWS NETWORK-OxBig News Network

Nehal Modi, the younger brother of fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, was arrested by US authorities following an extradition request from Indian agencies. His arrest took place on 4 July after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) jointly requested his extradition, according to the United States department of justice.Authorities are seeking his custody on two charges: one of money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, and another of criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He is accused of playing a major role in the alleged Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, one of the biggest banking frauds in the country’s history. Who is Nehal Modi and his links to the PNB scam Nehal Deepak Modi was born and brought up in Antwerp, Belgium, and is fluent in English, Gujarati and Hindi. Nehal, 46, is a key accused in the PNB scam, alongside his brother Nirav Modi and their uncle Mehul Choksi. Investigators said that Nehal helped Nirav move and hide large amounts of illegal money through fake companies and overseas transactions. In the scam, Nehal, through his companies, siphoned off almost Rs 6,498 crore from the bank, fraudulently obtaining Letters of Undertaking (LoUs), while his uncle used a similar method to misappropriate the remaining amount. He has also been accused of destroying evidence and helping Nirav Modi “knowingly and intentionally” after the scam was exposed.The CBI accused Nehal Modi of threatening and pressuring directors of shell companies in Dubai, which were used by Nirav Modi to make fraudulent trade dealings appear legitimate.ED claimed that after the scam came to light, Nehal, along with, Mihir R Bhansali, a close confidante of Nirav Modi, transported 50 kg of gold and “substantial cash from Dubai.” He further instructed dummy directors not to reveal his identity to investigating authorities.Nehal has been named as accused No. 27 in a supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI, which alleges that he destroyed evidence in Dubai to help conceal the suspected criminal conspiracy. According to investigators, these individuals, employees of Nirav Modi’s companies, were forced to move from Dubai to Cairo, where their phones, laptops, and computer servers were destroyed to eliminate evidence. They were also allegedly made to sign false declarations claiming to be the actual owners of Dubai and Hong Kong-based firms. These shell companies were shown as conducting genuine export-import business with three of Nirav Modi’s firms: Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports, and Stellar Diamonds. These entities are accused of wrongfully receiving buyer’s credit from foreign banks, backed by fake Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) fraudulently issued by PNB’s Brady House branch in Mumbai, with the help of bank insiders.The extradition hearing is scheduled for 17 July 2025, when a status conference will be held. Nehal may apply for bail during this session, but US prosecutors have already said they will oppose it.