Last year, the state government had written to the ED, which had sealed Nirav Modi's bungalow, Roopanya, seeking a nod to demolish the property on Kihim beach near Alibaug
Alibaug: Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's seaside mansion in Maharashtra, which was estimated to cost over Rs 100 crore, was demolished on Friday with controlled blasting.
The 33,000 sq ft bungalow, according to authorities, was illegally build and it violated coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms.
The diamantaire was accused in the USD 2 billion PNB fraud case.
Maharashtra: PNB Scam accused Nirav Modi's bungalow in Alibag, Raigad district demolished by authorities. pic.twitter.com/ngrJstNjoa
— ANI (@ANI)Last year, the state government had written to the ED, which had sealed the bungalow, Roopanya, seeking a nod to demolish the property on Kihim beach near Alibaug.
Though the demolition process started on January 25, it got delayed as the foundation of the structure was very strong. Following this, the authorities decided to use dynamite for a controlled explosion.
After Raigad district collector Vijay Suryawanshi had issued the demolition orders, experts were called in to open up the pillars of the bungalow and make space for fixing the detonators.
Also read: PNB scam a civil transaction, haven’t done anything wrong: Nirav Modi tells PMLA court
The fixtures from the bungalow will be up for auction. Three items, a jacuzzi, a chandelier, and a Buddha statue, have been kept aside for handing over to the ED, Suryawanshi said.
Modi's bungalow was attached by the Enforcement Directorate following his involvement in the Punjab National Bank fraud case. It was handed over to the collector's office on January 24, after the ED seized two trucks full of valuables from the building.
On January 5, Nirav filed a response before the PMLA court opposing the ED's complaint to have him declared a "fugitive economic offender" under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. He said that he has done nothing wrong and that the scam was a "civil transaction" which is now being blown out of proportion.
Nirav and his uncle Mehul Choksi fled India and has not returned despite repeated summons from probe agencies and courts.
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