Want a Hermès Birkin bag owned by Nirav Modi? Luxury items owned by India’s fugitive billionaire will be up for auction soon
Up for grabs is a limited edition Jaeger-LeCoultre watch, numerous luxury purses and jewellery, a Rolls-Royce and artwork by the likes of MF Husain
Priyanka Chopra was the face of his eponymous brand; Kate Winslet walked the Oscars red carpet sparkling in his diamonds; models Karlie Kloss and Kate Upton were fans of his designs. Indian jeweller Nirav Modi may have had a celebrity following, but the only people following him around these days are Indian law enforcement and Interpol – and maybe a few auction gawkers.
After Modi – who was declared a fugitive by an Indian court last year – defrauded the state-owned Punjab National Bank of US$1.8 billion in 2018, the Indian government seized the jeweller’s assets, which are set to go on sale in the coming weeks through auction house Saffronart.
Among the items for sale are 15 works of contemporary Indian art, cars, and a selection of luxury watches and purses.
The highlights from the sale will be a limited-edition Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2, estimated to fetch upwards of US$100,000, and more than 80 purses, including a number of Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags.
A 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost will be up for grabs and is estimated to go for as much as US$135,000.
Works by renowned Indian artists Amrita Sher-Gil and MF Husain will also be presented on the block.