Interpol Issues Red Notice Against Ami Modi Over Allegations of Money Laundering

Ami has allegedly left India with Nirav Modi and other members of the family in the first week of January 2018, just before agencies started their investigations in the PNB scam. It is alleged that she had moved to the US. Her current whereabouts is not known.

What is a Red Corner notice?

Interpol defines a Red notice as a request to global law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest a person who is pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action in his home state.

This Red notice provides information to identify the wanted person, such as their name, date of birth, nationality, hair and eye colour, photographs, and fingerprints if available. It also contains details concerning the crime they are wanted for.

This notice is issued at the request of a member country, in this case, India. The Interpol clarifies that a red notice is an international wanted person notice, and not an arrest warrant.

The Modi couple’s money laundering journey 

Ami was a director in few companies which were allegedly used by Nirav Modi for laundering money. The Indian Enforcement Directorate (ED) had named Ami as an accused in the PNB money-laundering case for the first time in March of 2019.

Nirav Modi was arrested in London by the Scotland Yard authorities in March 2019 and has been lodged at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London.

He was declared an “economic fugitive offender” in December last year under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

On June 8, a special Court was set up under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) and it ordered the confiscation of Mr. Modi’s movable and immovable properties. This order was passed in accordance with Section 12 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act on an application filed by the ED. 

The second part of the extradition trial begins on September 7

The fugitive businessman has been contending his extradition to India. Last month, a UK Court extended Modi’s custody till August 27. The second part of the extradition trial is scheduled to begin on September 7, 2020.