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Fact Check: Fake Claim Of Nirav Modi Saying He Was Forced By Congress To Escape The Country Resurfaces
Writer: Aditi Chattopadhyay
Aditi, part of the fact checking team of The Logical Indian likes to read, write, cook and laugh, in short live life as it is supposed to be. What makes her fascinated is to discover the truth behind a story and more often than not, it is either fact or myth at the end.
India, 21 Sep 2020 12:30 PM GMT | Updated 21 Sep 2020 12:33 PM GMT
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The Logical Indian Fact check team investigates the claim that Niral Modi testified in UK court that Congress leaders forced him to flee and charged Rs 456 crore as commission.
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.
Earlier the same message was viral, however, in that case, BJP leaders were mentioned instead of Congress.
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.
If you have any news that you believe needs to be fact-checked, please email us at factcheck@thelogicalindian.com or WhatsApp at 6364000343.
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