A special CBI court has granted pardon to Maiank Mehta, the brother-in-law of fugitive diamond businessman Nirav Modi, in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. The court approved his plea to become an approver in the matter, allowing him to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Special CBI Judge AV Gujarathi, under Sections 343 and 344 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, observed that there was “nothing on record not to grant the tender of pardon” to Mehta. However, the pardon applies only to him in his individual capacity. The court also directed authorities to ensure Mehta can attend proceedings in India, despite currently residing abroad.
Background and Legal Proceedings
Mehta had previously been granted pardon in January 2021 during the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case linked to Nirav Modi. In that case, both Maiank and his wife, Purvi Mehta (Nirav Modi’s sister), were made approvers after offering full disclosure of the facts.
Advocates Amit Desai and Manavendra Mishra, representing Mehta, highlighted that he voluntarily returned to India in September 2021 and has since assisted authorities in seizing Nirav Modi’s assets. Desai stated that Mehta is ready to provide a full and true disclosure regarding the circumstances and his knowledge of the fraud.
CBI’s Stance and No Objection
The CBI gave its no-objection to the pardon, recognizing Mehta’s prior role as an approver in the ED case. The prosecution agreed to the pardon on the condition that Mehta provides complete information about Nirav Modi’s involvement and the broader conspiracy in the PNB fraud.
Long Legal Battle
This order marks a shift in CBI’s position, which had earlier opposed Mehta’s international travels, citing concerns over undisclosed funds and prior non-cooperation. The agency had alleged that millions of dollars from Nirav Modi’s shell companies were transferred to Purvi and Maiank Mehta.
Mehta avoided custody only after the Bombay High Court granted him interim protection from arrest in 2022. Despite repeated summons, the CBI claimed he was not providing disclosures beneficial to the case.
The pardon now allows Maiank Mehta to fully cooperate, potentially providing critical leads in one of India’s largest banking fraud cases.
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