Diamond merchant Nirav Modi’s second leg of extradition trial at a London court started on September 7. This trial was held through a video conference. Since March 2019, the 49-year-old jeweller has been lodging at a London prison.
The Times Of India reported that Nirav Modi is ‘fighting extradition charges related to the estimated $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case brought by the Indian government, being represented at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).’
In light of this, a WhatsApp Forward has resurfaced which claims that Nirav Modi has testified that he was forced by Congress leaders to escape from India. He had apparently paid Rs 456 crore as a commission to these leaders.
लंदन कोर्ट में नीरव मोदी का बयान: मैं भागा नहीं मुझे भगाया गया, 456 करोड़ कमिशन खाया कांग्रेस के नेताओं ने, मैंने अकेले नहीं खाया, सबको हिस्सा दिया। सब मिल कर चुकाये: नीरव मोदी।
— रोहित शर्मा (@rohitguru777) September 19, 2020
**नीरव मोदी ने बम फोड़ दिया**कांग्रेस में हड़कंप, सिब्बल को कांग्रेस ने भेजा लंदन अभी.!लंदन कोर्ट में नीरव मोदी का बयान मै ‘भागा नहीं मुझे भगाया गया’,456 करोड़ कमीशन खाया कांग्रेस के नेताओं ने,सबने मिलकर खाया.!13000 करोड़ में मेरा 32% हिस्सा बाकी कांग्रेस नेताओं की..
— शिव (@ShivSha99863970) September 20, 2020
लंदन कोर्ट में नीरव मोदी- मैं भागा नहीं भगाया गया,मेरा हिस्सा 32%था, 456 करोड़ कमिशन खाया है। कांग्रेस के नेताओं ने…//
— Ocean Jain (@Ocjain4) September 19, 2020
काँग्रेस की सच्चाई सामने आई….. लंदन कोर्ट में नीरव मोदी का बयान मैं भागा नहीं मुझे भगाया गया, 456 करोड़ कमीशन खाई कांग्रेसी नेताओं ने…!!
— कृष्णा सिन्हा हिंदुस्तानी I Love My Followers (@Krishna29892392) September 20, 2020
#कोंग्रेस मे हडकंपकपिल सिब्बल को कोंग्रेस ने लंदन भेजा !अभी सोनिया गांधी राहुल भी भागे !लंदन कोर्ट में नीरव मोदी का बयान: मैं भागा नहीं मुझे भगाया गया !456 करोड़ कमिशन खाया कांग्रेस के नेताओ ने !मैंने अकेले नहीं खाया,कोंग्रेस को हिस्सा दिया सब मिल कर चुकाये:नीरव मोदी। pic.twitter.com/skUStYx4n2
— अखंड भारत युवा वाहिनी (@United_India1) September 19, 2020
Earlier the same message was viral, however, in that case, BJP leaders were mentioned instead of Congress.
नीरव मोदी का लंदन कोर्ट मे बयान,भागा नही हूं भगाया गया हूं जिसकी कीमत 456 करोड़ रुपए जो सरकार के मंत्रियों से लेकर भाजपा नेताओं और अफसरों मे बंटा है?? क्या इस न्यूज़ को मीडिया वालों में हिम्मत है दिखाने की??#चौकीदार_ही_चोर_है #BJP_भगाओ_देश_बचाओ
— RISHIKESH TATWAL % follow (@RishikeshTatwal) March 25, 2019
The message claims to be a statement by the diamond merchant.
‘I was threatened by Congress leaders to escape and run away from India. I paid them a commission of Rs 456 Cr to Congress leaders. Why was Kapil Sibal rushed to London when NIRAV got arrested?,’ reads the forward in Hindi.
The Logical Indian received a request to verify the claims.
Claim:
Niral Modi testified in UK court that Congress leaders forced him to flee and charged Rs 456 crore as commission.
Fact Check:
The claim is false. No such reports of Nirav Modi’s statements as mentioned in the WhatsApp Forward were found.
According to a Times of India report published on March 21, 2019, which had specifically quoted the words spoken by Nirav Modi in Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
‘I do not consent,’ the fugitive diamantaire had responded when District Judge Marie Mallon had asked if he would consent to his extradition.
Further, the only other details that he gave were confirmation of his date of birth and address.
Naomi Canton, a journalist based in London who reports for the Times of India in the UK had confirmed to Alt News last year that the statement doing the rounds is, ‘fake news’.
‘I was in court and Nirav Modi did not say this in open court. He spoke just to confirm his name and gave his date of birth and address. He was asked if he consented to extradition and he said I do not consent. Other than that it was just his barrister who spoke and the CPS,’ she was quoted as saying.
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