PNB's Brady House branch sealed

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday sealed the Brady House branch of the Punjab National Bank here as multiple probe agencies continued their probe into the Rs 11,300 crore fraud, involving billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, officials said. The CBI has pasted an official notice outside the branch in Fort -- the bank's flagship lending window in Mumbai and its second largest national outlet.

Restrictions are made for entering inside this branch without prior permission of the CBI or the CBI Special Court or the CBI Competent Authority.All operations at the Brady House Branch came to a grinding halt and several bewildered staffers were seen waiting outside it for further orders from their bosses.

The action came two days after the Special CBI Court in Mumbai sent three accused, including two former staffers, in police remanded till March 3. The accused are retired PNB Deputy Manager Gokulnath Shetty, Single Window Operator Manoj Kharat and authorised signatory of the prime accused Nirav Modi's group companies, Hemant Bhatt.The CBI is also questioning Vipul Ambani, the Chief Financial Officer of diamantaire Nirav Modi's Fire Star diamond company, the officials said. 

The three were the very first arrests in the sensational case so far by the CBI from different parts of Mumbai and Raigad. More arrests are expected soon, officials indicated. Besides these, the CBI earlier named ten other directors and officials as accused in the scam which has created a nationwide furore.The prime accused, diamond trader Nirav Modi and other associates fled the country in early January, before the massive financial fraud came to light.(UNI)