MUMBAI, Aug. 12 -- A Mumbai court has rejected a request by Purvi Modi, sister of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation via video conference, observing that her physical presence was necessary for detailed questioning and confrontation with the "voluminous" documents, accounts and transactions involved in the case.

Purvi has been listed as accused no. 31 in CBI's second supplementary charge sheet. She had earlier applied to become an approver in the case, like her husband, Maiank Mehta.

In his order on Monday, special CBI judge SK Karhale noted that Purvi, a Belgian citizen, had failed to respond to a notice issued by the investigating officer in June 2022.

This, the court said, prima fac...