The accused, Rajesh Kapoor, from Dasuya in Hoshiarpur district was on the list of 16 fugitives that India handed over to the UK when the India-British dialogue on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance was held here on February 20 and 21.
LONDON – The United Kingdom is soon likely to extradite an Indian national from Punjab, who is accused of kidnapping his brother’s daughter and fraud.
The accused, Rajesh Kapoor, from Dasuya in Hoshiarpur district was on the list of 16 fugitives that India handed over to the UK when the India-British dialogue on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance was held here on February 20 and 21.
Sources said Kapoor’s extradition would be the second success story in this regard; his extradition is already “in process”. Last year, Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel was extradited to India to stand trial for his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Kapoor, a decade ago, had kidnapped his brother’s daughter with the help of his sister. The Interpol has also issued Red Corner notices against the brother-sister duo.
The development follows from the February 20 meeting between officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and their British counterparts over the possible extradition of people wanted in India on several charges. The most highlighted extradition request by India and one that is still pending with the UK is that of flamboyant businessman Vijay Mallya. It has been learnt that Mallya’s extradition was discussed in the meeting too.
Christian Michel, an accused in the VVIP chopper scam, is another person on the list.
The matter of extradition also came up for discussion during the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India last year. During the bilateral talks between May and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India handed over the list of its wanted people to the UK.
Britain also handed over to India a list of 17 persons, whose custody it sought under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or against whom Letters Rogatory had been issued.
The prevalent feeling is that UK laws allow rich people to stay on even when they are wanted in other countries on serious charges. Kapoor’s extradition to India will provide greater impetus to the India-UK collaboration in this regard and give India hope to push further on other similar cases.
