The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully arranged for the return of Sandeep Mistry, an associate of the fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India as part of the investigation into the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, as confirmed by a CBI representative on Tuesday.

Mistry, who is a key suspect in the PNB fraud and wanted by the CBI’s Bank Securities and Fraud Branch in Mumbai, arrived in Mumbai at 11:55 PM on Monday, where he was immediately taken into custody by CBI officials. Following his arrival, he was presented before a local court, which ordered him to be held in judicial custody.

The CBI spokesperson indicated that Mistry is implicated in fraudulent international trade activities associated with the PNB case. He allegedly served as a crucial intermediary among various parties, managed their daily operations, and communicated through secretive, self-deleting messaging platforms to obscure evidence.

Furthermore, Mistry is accused of aiding in the creation of counterfeit import-export documents intended to mask non-existent transactions involving diamonds, gold, and pearl jewelry. He is also alleged to have played a role in diverting funds from the accounts of shell companies based in the UAE.

The agency has claimed that Mistry, in collaboration with other individuals involved, intimidated the nominal directors of foreign companies. They reportedly threatened these individuals with arrest, forced relocations, confiscated their electronic devices, and coerced them into signing documents that falsely identified them as legitimate owners of the companies. A chargesheet has already been submitted to the appropriate court, according to the spokesperson.

The CBI had requested the issuance of a Red Notice against Mistry through Interpol channels in July 2026. Following this, he was located and apprehended by authorities in the UAE, leading to the initiation of deportation processes.

The CBI noted that Mistry was tracked down, arrested, and returned to India within approximately two months of the Red Notice being issued, showcasing effective international collaboration among the CBI, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the UAE government.