Officials of India and the United Kingdom on Tuesday held discussions on issues pertaining to pending deportation and extradition cases between the two countries.
The discussions were a follow up of the decision taken last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Theresa May during latter's visit to New Delhi in November during which the two leaders directed that officials dealing with extradition matters from both sides should meet to develop better understanding of each countries' legal processes and requirements. They were also asked to share best practices, and identify the causes of delays and expedite pending requests so that fugitives and criminals should not be allowed to escape the law.
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary, Consular, Passport and Visa, Ministry of External Affairs and had representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of law and Justice and investigating agencies, including Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, and the State authorities concerned.
The UK delegation was led by the Head of the UK Central Authority for Extradition and Mutual legal Assistance, the UK Home Office and representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service, and the UK High Commission in New Delhi.
“Both sides held detailed and fruitful deliberations on the legal processes and procedures in either country and reviewed the requests for extradition and mutual legal assistance pending on either side. Both sides reiterated their determination to strengthen legal cooperation and expedite the pending requests. It was agreed that the Central Authorities of both the countries would review further progress in these cases every six month through Video “ Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
India had last year handed over to UK a list of 60 persons wanted in several cases here. In return UK also gave a list of 17 persons whose custody it wanted. Interestingly, India’s extradition request history with the UK is not very impressive and so far fugitives have returned twice only.
One was the case of Duncan Alexander Grant, wanted in child sexual abuse cases in India, returned on his own before he could be arrested by the British authorities. The second case of Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, who became the first successful case of extradition from UK in 24 years after the two countries signed the extradition treaty. Patel, wanted in 2002 post-Godhara riots in Gujarat, and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy among others, was sent back to India on October 19, 2016.
India has returned three persons to UK. These were Kulwinder Singh Uppal in 2013 (for kidnapping charges), Somaia Ketan Surendra in 2009 (Cheating) and Maninder Pal Singh Kohil in 2007 (murder).
Officials said this new round of dialogue on matters related to Extradition and Mutual legal Assistance was held precisely to iron out the differences and expedite the requests. They added no specific cases were discussed during the meeting and talks concerned general framework.