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Another Indian arrested in China for 'smuggling diamonds'

Last updated on: April 22, 2010 11:12 IST

Chinese authorities arrested another Indian diamond trader on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing case of 21 Indian diamond merchants, who were arrested in January 2010 for allegedly smuggling diamonds into China from Hong Kong.

Rishit Maheshkumar Shah is an employee of Ritesh Exports, a diamond business house that has offices in Hong Kong and Mumbai.

The latest arrest is bad news for the 21 arrested Indians, who were hoping to win the case soon.

Due to the efforts of the Indian embassy in China, families of the 21 Indians visited them recently. The positive turn of event had raised the hopes of the arrested Indians.

The Indians are currently lodged in Shenzhen jail.

Shah had been hiding different parts of China since January when the diamond merchants were arrested.

Shah was arrested when he was trying to board a flight at the domestic airport. Like the others, he too will be charged with smuggling diamonds into China.
Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi