A fraudster wanted in India over a $1 billion diamond and gold scam has been enjoying a luxurious life with his family in London, according to reports.
The High Court in London heard that Jatin Mehta, his wife Sonia, their sons Vishal and Suraj, and business associate Haytham Obidah have conducted a sophisticated fraud from two diamond companies, Winsome Diamonds and Forever Precious Diamonds.
According to a report in the Evening Standard, the scam involved a complex web including companies in the United Arab Emirates, Britain, Singapore and Ireland, and sham derivatives trading, gold dealing and loan defaults.
When Indian authorities started probe into the fraud, Mehta and his family renounced their Indian citizenship and obtained passports from St Kitts and Nevis — which has no extradition treaty with India — before vanishing.
But liquidators found out that they were living in three houses in London — in St John’s Wood, Maida Vale and Hampstead Garden Suburb.
Ian Wilson QC, representing companie, called for Mehta and his family to give a full account of where the money had gone. The family explained that the hundreds of millions of dollars had been lost through “catastrophic foreign exchange and commodities derivatives” trading by companies in the UAE.
However, it was proved to be false later. Lawyers for Mehta and his family are contesting the claims.
In a earlier hearing, High Court judge Justice Johnson passed a worldwide freezing order against Mehta and his family, which covers £743,176,152.77 claim.
The family's location had not been identified either by the Indian criminal authorities or anyone else so far. Now, criminal proceedings had begun in India against Jatin, Sonia and Suraj Mehta, the report said.
Dharavi slum in Mumbai
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)