In a move that is likely to raise some eyebrows, CBI Joint Director, Rajiv Singh, who led the probe into the Rs 13,000 crore Nirav Modi-Mehul Choksi scam has been “prematurely repatriated” with immediate effect to his home cadre in Tripura on Wednesday night. On May 23, a repatriation/curtailment order was issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

This came a week after the CBI had filed two charge-sheets against the billionaire diamantaire duo, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, as well as top PNB officials and was in the process of approaching the Interpol for a Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi, reported NDTV.

However, Rajiv Singh was not the only one to get such a notice. Three others- Joint Director (STF) and Special Crime Nina Singh, DIG Anish Prasad and Superintendent of Police R Gopala Krishna Rao have also been repatriated to their respective cadre.

The Repatriation Letter That Had Been Issued. The Print

According to officials quoted in Times Of India, the repatriation took place after the newly elected Tripura Chief Minister, Biplab Deb had written a letter to the centre asking the return of the state’s officers who were deputed in New Delhi.

Under Singh’s supervision, who is also the recipient of the President’s Police Medal, CBI’s Bank Security and Fraud Cell (BS&FC) had registered over 40 cases of high profile bank frauds like that of Rotomac and Shimbhaoli Sugars, reported Times Of India.

The Nirav Modi Scam

On February 5, 2018, the PNB said in a statement that its preliminary investigations showed it has come across a suspected fraud amounting to Rs 280 crore. Later, it was found that it was in connection with fraudulent activities of billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi who was being probed by the federal investigation agency. The PNB appointed audit firm also came under scrutiny for GST evasion.