TOI correspondent from London: Nirav Modi appeared defiant in the dock in his Bank of India (BOI) trial on Thursday, saying that the banks, together with the CBI and ED, had destroyed the business he had spent 20 years building up and that he had committed no fraud against Punjab National Bank.Nirav was giving evidence in a separate civil trial at which he is accused of owing BOI in excess of $10.7 million (Rs 100 crore) via a personal guarantee he allegedly gave on a loan given to Firestar Diamond FZE. He denies he тАЬknowingly and intentionallyтАЭ signed the guarantee and says he does not owe BOI anything.Dressed in a smart suit, he arrived from prison and looked unfazed by WednesdayтАЩs adverse extradition judgment. He took his oath on the Bhagavad Gita and put both hands through the dock bars as he read from a laptop.Beasley, representing BOI, asked him why he claimed there was no material adverse event for BOI to call in the BOI loan in 2018 given the allegations that appeared in the media about his companies and his alleged fraud against PNB at that time.тАЬIt started Feb 5,тАЭ Nirav replied. тАЬThat is when the media reported on it,тАЭ he said. тАЬI remember the date. It was a life-changing event,тАЭ he said. тАЬThey said Rs 11,000 crore, it was Rs 6,000 core, there was no fraud, and I donтАЩt think his amount would make the top 20 in India.тАЭHe then accused PNB of colluding with the CBI. тАЬNormally there would be preliminary investigation and then an FIR тАФ it is unheard of for an FIR to be filed without hearing from the complainee. On Feb 2 , I donтАЩt think anyone was aware except the CBI. Maybe PNB was working with CBI as PNB put it on social media on Feb 3. On Feb 15, the ED pulled the plug on everything тАФ no manufacturing or finance could continue. My business stopped and the ED and CBI seized and attached everything.тАЭAfter the hearing, he told TOI he canтАЩt comment on the extradition judgment.
