Indian investigators on Thursday raided the premises of a billionaire jeweller accused of defrauding one of the country’s biggest banks. Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers searched the Mumbai offices of Nirav Modi after he was accused of cheating state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) of 2.8 billion rupees ($43.8 million). Footage broadcast on Indian television news channels showed officers entering one of Modi’s jewellery showrooms in the south of India’s financial capital. The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported that investigators searched around half a dozen locations in Mumbai, including Modi’s home, as well as stores in New Delhi and Surat. A spokesman for the ED refused to comment when contacted by AFP. Modi is one of India’s richest men. He is worth $1.73 billion according to Forbes, placing him 85th on India’s rich list. The 47-year-old is the founder of jewellery giant Firestar Diamond. His high-end Nirav Modi brand has stores in several of the world’s major cities. Wednesday’s raids came a day after the ED registered a money laundering case against Modi and a few others, including members of his family and a business associate. Published in Daily Times, February 16th 2018.