PNB case: Passports of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi cancelled

New Delhi : In a bid to get Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi back in India over their alleged involvement in Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, India has cancelled their passports.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) had requested external affairs ministry to revoke their passports with immediate effect for a period of four weeks on February 16.

"Since they have not responded so far, their passports have been revoked," a senior ministry source said, noting that in its notice to Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, the ministry had made it clear that their passports would be cancelled if they failed to respond.

The future course of action will be decided as per agency's advice.

Reacting on the move, Nirav Modi's lawyer said that government agencies are acting contrary to each other.

"The ED and passport authorities are acting contrary to each other. The passport authority had initially suspended the passport and revoked it later. The ED is saying please come and join (investigation). If one doesn't have a passport and is abroad, how will he come and join," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.