Income tax dept refutes media claims that Nirav Modi documents gutted in Mumbai fire

The Income Tax Department on Sunday refused reports that claimed that records and documents related to the investigation of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi were destroyed in the fire in the Mumbai office.

Taking to Twitter, the department said, "News reports appearing in some sections of media alleging that records/documents relating to investigation of Nirav Modi/Mehul Choksi have been destroyed in the Scindia House fire in IT Office, Mumbai are completely false & misdirected (Sic)."

Earlier reports were rife that a massive fire at the Income Tax (investigations) officer in Scindia house, Ballard Estate on Friday has suspected enveloped important files related to defaulters like Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

The fire brigade department said that dousing operation was challenging as the massive amount of files and wooden work inside the premises became fodder to fire.

No injuries were reported, but one person trapped on the second floor of the commercial building was rescued by firefighters, he said.

The building, a well-known landmark in South Mumbai, also houses the office of the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT).