Nirav Modi case: ED cancels Look Out Circular against approver Maiank Mehta

The Story in Brief

On 5 August 2026 in Mumbai, the Enforcement Directorate told a special CBI and PMLA court that the look-out circular (LOC) issued against Maiank Mehta has been deleted, allowing him to travel abroad. Mehta, brother-in-law of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, had initially been named as an accused and was later made an approver by the court through its order dated 4 January 2021. The LOC in question was issued on 15 June 2018 at the request of the ED.

Mehta had sought withdrawal or cancellation of the LOC, and his lawyer told the court that Mehta is a British citizen whose business is based in Hong Kong and requires his presence for day-to-day operations. The defence also said he needs to travel to Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and Canada for client meetings. ED prosecutor Arvind Aghav initially opposed the application but on Wednesday informed the court the LOC had been deleted. The court disposed of the plea and directed the ED to communicate the deletion to the Bureau of Immigration.

The Indian Opinion

An ordinary reader might see the deletion of the LOC as consistent with Mehta’s approver status and his stated business obligations abroad. At the same time, the report provides no detail on why the ED deleted the LOC or whether any conditions accompany that deletion, so reasonable questions about transparency and oversight remain. The ED’s initial opposition followed by deletion may prompt public curiosity about timing and safeguards to secure the approver’s cooperation in the ongoing case. Given limited facts in the article, readers may expect authorities to provide fuller explanations while also recognising that some information could be subject to legal confidentiality.

Original article: Nirav Modi Case: ED Deletes Look Out Circular Against Approver Maiank Mehta, Court Disposes Plea (www.freepressjournal.in)

This story was summarised and commented on by AI from the source linked above.