Priyanka Chopra, who was appointed as the global ambassador by luxury diamond jeweller Nirav Modi, has dragged the diamantaire to court for non-payment of dues. The Quantico actor has accused Modi of not paying her for the diamond ad campaign. Modi, who ventured late into the business, gained a reputation as India’s top jeweller to the Bollywood A-listers and even to Hollywood biggies including Kate Winslet and Dakota Johnson who walked the red carpet in diamonds from his eponymous brand, reports the Zoom.

Priyanka Chopra has already cut off ties with Nirav Modi. She and her team have blamed him for non-payments for their endorsement deals. 

‘My association with Nirav Modi is like a meeting of minds in many ways. We are both fiercely proud of our heritage and are united by the idea of bringing a modern India to the global forefront. His jewels are one of a kind and effortless, with an understated elegance,’ the actress had said in a statement, back in January 2017, at the time of the appointment as an ambassador.

Priyanka Chopra had shot for several ad campaigns for Nirav Modi Jewels including one with Bollywood hunk Sidharth Malhotra. Actor Siddharth Malhotra who was a brand ambassador is exploring legal options to get out of his endorsement deal with Nirav Modi. Actress Lisa Haydon was also seen as the face of the brand before Priyanka. 

The news came in after India’s second largest state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) discovered a $1.77 billion (Rs 11,400 crore) fraud at a single Mumbai branch. PNB named three diamond firms who have benefitted from the fraud—Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports, and Stellar Diamonds. It may be noted that Nirav Modi and his family members are partners in all the aforementioned companies. 

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted multiple searches in connection with a Rs 280 crore money laundering case against billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi and others following a complaint by Punjab National Bank.