Indian authorities have seized diamonds, pearls and silver worth millions of dollars belonging to wanted gem trader Nirav Modi.
The valuables worth 13.5 billion rupees (Dh650 million) had been kept in a warehouse in Hong Kong after being moved there from Dubai in 2018, said India’s Enforcement Directorate, which investigates financial crimes.
Mr Modi, whose jewels adorned celebrities including actresses Kate Winslet and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, remains in a British prison as he battles extradition to India, accused of a money-laundering and fraud operation worth nearly $2bn.
The jeweller was arrested in March last year after spending 15 months on the run after he and his uncle Mehul Choksi were accused for fraudulently securing guarantees from Punjab National Bank from corrupt staff in Mumbai that were then used to obtain loans from abroad.
The Enforcement Directorate said the seized jewels belonged to Mr Modi and Mr Choksi, who also fled India and is living in Antigua.
Mr Modi is fighting against extradition and his lawyers argued at a hearing last month that Indian prisons were too overcrowded and there were no provisions available to help his “serious mental condition”.
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
