CBI deports Sandeep Mistry from UAE in Nirav Modi PNB fraud case
Synopsis
Within just two months of an Interpol Red Notice, the CBI brought back Sandeep Mistry — a key alleged operative in the Nirav Modi PNB fraud — from the UAE. Accused of running shell entities, forging trade documents, and intimidating dummy directors, Mistry is now in judicial custody in Mumbai, marking one of the more significant enforcement wins in India's long-running pursuit of banking fraud fugitives.
Key Takeaways
Sandeep Mistry , a key accused in the Nirav Modi-linked PNB fraud , was deported from the UAE and arrived in Mumbai on 28 September .
The CBI secured an Interpol Red Notice against Mistry in July 2026 ; he was traced and arrested by UAE authorities within approximately two months .
Mistry is alleged to have managed shell entities, forged import-export documents for fictitious trade in diamonds, gold, and pearl jewellery , and used self-deleting communication platforms to evade detection.
He was produced before a competent court and remanded to judicial custody upon arrival.
The CBI has repatriated more than 175 fugitives to India in recent years through Interpol and BHARATPOL channels.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has secured the deportation of Sandeep Mistry, a key accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud linked to fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officials confirmed on Tuesday, 29 September. The operation was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Who Is Sandeep Mistry and What Is He Accused Of
Mistry was wanted by the CBI's Bank Securities and Fraud Branch (BSFB), Mumbai, for his alleged role in fraudulent international trade transactions involving shell entities. According to investigators, he served as a crucial operational link between several entities implicated in the fraud, managing their day-to-day activities and issuing instructions through clandestine, self-deleting communication platforms to evade detection and destroy evidence.
The CBI further alleged that Mistry facilitated the creation of forged import-export documents to project fictitious trade in diamonds, gold, and pearl jewellery. He is also accused of working with co-conspirators to intimidate dummy directors of foreign companies — threatening them with arrest, relocating them, confiscating their electronic devices, and coercing them into signing documents falsely portraying themselves as legitimate company owners.
Investigators additionally alleged that Mistry played a direct role in siphoning funds from the bank accounts of dummy companies based in the UAE. A charge sheet in the case has already been filed before a competent court.
How the Deportation Was Secured
At the CBI's request, Interpol issued a Red Notice against Mistry in July 2026. UAE authorities subsequently traced and arrested him, following which deportation proceedings were initiated. Notably, Mistry was located, apprehended, and returned to India within approximately two months of the Red Notice being issued — a timeline that officials say underscores the strength of bilateral cooperation between Indian and UAE law enforcement.
Mistry arrived in Mumbai on 28 September and was taken into custody by CBI officials upon landing. He was subsequently produced before a competent court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
India's Interpol Coordination and the Bigger Picture
The CBI functions as India's National Central Bureau for Interpol and coordinates with domestic law enforcement agencies through the BHARATPOL platform to facilitate international police cooperation. According to the agency, more than 175 wanted fugitives have been repatriated to India in recent years through coordinated Interpol channels.
This comes amid sustained pressure from Indian authorities to bring back accused individuals linked to high-profile banking fraud cases. The PNB fraud, one of the largest in Indian banking history, thrust the name of Nirav Modi — who remains in custody in the United Kingdom fighting extradition — into the national spotlight. Mistry's deportation represents a significant enforcement milestone in that broader investigation.
What Happens Next
With Mistry now in judicial custody, the CBI is expected to seek further remand for interrogation. Investigators are likely to probe his communication networks and the full extent of the shell-company structure allegedly used to route fraudulent transactions. The case before the competent court will now proceed with Mistry as an active participant in proceedings.
Point of View
But the larger story is institutional: India's use of BHARATPOL and bilateral UAE channels is maturing into a credible fugitive-recovery pipeline. What remains untested is whether courtroom proceedings will match the pace of enforcement — the PNB fraud case has been in various stages of litigation for years, and Nirav Modi himself remains in UK custody pending extradition. Mistry's arrest is a node, not the endpoint. The real measure of success is conviction, and on that front, India's banking fraud prosecutions have a mixed record.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sandeep Mistry and why was he deported from the UAE?
Sandeep Mistry is a key accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank fraud linked to fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi. He was deported from the UAE after Indian authorities secured an Interpol Red Notice against him in July 2026, following which UAE authorities traced and arrested him.
What is Sandeep Mistry accused of in the PNB fraud case?
According to the CBI, Mistry allegedly managed shell entities involved in the fraud, forged import-export documents to project fictitious trade in diamonds, gold, and pearl jewellery, and used self-deleting communication platforms to evade detection. He is also accused of intimidating dummy directors of foreign companies and siphoning funds from UAE-based dummy company bank accounts.
How long did it take to bring Sandeep Mistry back to India after the Interpol Red Notice?
Mistry was brought back to India within approximately two months of the Interpol Red Notice being issued in July 2026. He arrived in Mumbai on 28 September and was immediately taken into CBI custody.
What is BHARATPOL and how did it help in this case?
BHARATPOL is India's domestic coordination platform through which the CBI, as India's National Central Bureau for Interpol, facilitates international police cooperation. It was used alongside direct coordination with UAE authorities to trace, arrest, and deport Mistry.
What happens to Sandeep Mistry now?
Mistry has been remanded to judicial custody by a competent court after being produced before it on his arrival in Mumbai. The CBI is expected to seek further remand for interrogation as the case proceeds before the court.
