A special court in Mumbai on Thursday allowed the auction of 13 properties of Gitanjali Gems Limited, a firm of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, the prime accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case.

Judge SM Menjoge of the special court hearing cases related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), while allowing the official liquidator's plea, held that if the properties are kept idle without maintenance then it will definitely reduce the value.