PNB Scam: Warrant against former Gitanjali Group official stayed, CBI court had issued NBW

A special anti-money laundering court in Mumbai on Thursday suspended the non-bailable warrant issued against a former top official of Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Group in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. Special Judge SM Menjonghe stayed the warrant for Gitanjali Group's former international business head Sunil Verma to return to India and appear in court.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claims Verma was a crucial figure in the bank scam, which was carried out alongside diamond businessman Choksi and others. The ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have charged Verma in a PNB fraud case. The non-bailable warrant for Verma was issued in August 2018 in conjunction with the money laundering investigation. In July 2021, the CBI issued another NBW against him in connection with the fraud case. In April of this year, Verma petitioned the Bombay High Court to revoke the warrant in the CBI case.

His lawyers had said that Verma wanted to return to India and wanted security for this. He said that he is ready to appear in court on July 18. Accepting this argument, the High Court canceled the warrant issued in the CBI case last month. Also directed the investigating agencies to take steps to enable Verma to appear before the special court dealing with cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In view of the High Court's direction, Verma's lawyer moved the special PMLA court on July 1 to cancel the warrant pending against him. Special Judge Menjonge suspended the warrant in the money laundering case.