Dadra Nagar Haveli [India], Apr 21 (NT): Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday declared that the Centre will present a fugitive economic offenders bill before the Parliament, to prevent economic offenders from escaping abroad.

As Opposition levels allegations that some Nirav (Modi) and (Mehul) Choksi escaped abroad. Modi-led-Govt will present a fugitive economic offenders bill before Parliament.

Earlier offenders used to escape abroad and their properties were not seized but now their properties will be seized under the bill as Singh said while addressing a public meeting here.

Celebrity Jem-jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle and business partner, Mehul Choksi are the prime accused in the multi-crore rip-off that hit Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Now both have been absconding arrest and while it was speculated that Modi is in Hong Kong, Choksi is considered to be in the United States.

The Home Minister was in Dadra Nagar Haveli to launch a number of development projects.

Underlining the tariff of the union territory, Singh said it has the potential to be a good tourist destination, as well as It will also be a centre of industrial development due to its closeness to Mumbai.

"There is a huge potential for industrial development. It is because I believe that tariffs here are lower than most states, and single-window system is also available," Singh said as quoted by ANI.

He also informed that a campaign titled 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan Yojana' has been launched. In it government officials will make field visits from April 14 until May 5, to supervise progress of various development schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Ghar Yojna (Soubhagya).