CBI Brings Wanted Fugitive Sandeep Mistry Back from UAE in Nirav Modi PNB Fraud Case
Mumbai | 29 September 2026: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully brought Sandeep Mistry, a wanted fugitive in the Nirav Modi Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, back to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Mistry, who was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice, was deported from the UAE following coordinated efforts by the CBI, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). He arrived in Mumbai late on September 28 and was subsequently taken into custody by CBI officials.
The accused is wanted in a bank fraud case being investigated by the CBI’s Bank Securities & Financial Fraud Branch (BSFB), Mumbai. The case is linked to the wider Nirav Modi PNB fraud and involves allegations of fictitious international trade transactions.
According to the CBI investigation, Mistry allegedly played an important role in coordinating the activities of several entities involved in the fraudulent transactions. The agency has alleged that he acted as a key link between different companies and was involved in overseeing their day-to-day operations and passing instructions to individuals associated with them.
Investigators have also alleged that Mistry used clandestine and self-deleting communication platforms to communicate with other accused persons. The CBI suspects that such methods were used to conceal communications and destroy or prevent the preservation of evidence connected with the alleged fraud.
The agency has further alleged that Mistry was involved in facilitating the preparation of forged import-export documents. These documents were allegedly created to give the appearance of genuine international trade involving diamonds, gold and pearl jewellery, even though the transactions were allegedly fictitious.
Another serious allegation being examined by the CBI relates to the use of dummy directors for foreign companies. According to the agency, Mistry and other accused persons allegedly pressured or coerced such individuals by threatening them with arrest, moving them to different locations and taking away their electronic devices. The individuals were allegedly compelled to sign documents that falsely represented them as the genuine owners of the companies.
The CBI has also alleged that Mistry participated in the siphoning of funds from bank accounts belonging to dummy companies in the UAE. The agency’s investigation has examined the movement of funds and the alleged role of different individuals and entities in the transactions.
A chargesheet in the case has already been filed before the competent court.
Red Notice leads to arrest in UAE
The international effort to trace Mistry intensified after the CBI requested the publication of an INTERPOL Red Notice in July 2026. Following the circulation of the notice through INTERPOL channels, the accused was eventually located by the UAE authorities.
He was subsequently arrested by the UAE authorities, following which the deportation process was initiated to bring him back to India to face the proceedings in the case.
The CBI highlighted that Mistry was traced, apprehended and brought back to India within approximately two months of the publication of the Red Notice. The agency said the development reflects the effectiveness of international cooperation and coordination between Indian and UAE authorities.
Taken into custody after arriving in Mumbai
Mistry arrived in Mumbai at around 11:55 pm on September 28, 2026. CBI officers from the BSFB, Mumbai, took him into custody after his arrival.
He was subsequently produced before the competent court, which sent him to judicial custody.
The development marks another significant step in the investigation into the multi-crore PNB fraud case, particularly as agencies continue efforts to trace and bring back accused persons who have left India.
The CBI, which functions as India’s National Central Bureau for INTERPOL, coordinates with law enforcement agencies across the country through BHARATPOL for assistance and cooperation through INTERPOL channels.
The agency said that international cooperation has played an important role in locating and bringing wanted offenders back to India. According to the CBI, more than 175 wanted criminals have been successfully brought back to India in recent years through coordination using INTERPOL channels.
The agency continues to investigate the case and examine the role of other individuals and entities connected with the alleged fraud.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
