SC refuses parole to gangster Om Prakash

New Delhi, June 13 (UNI) The Supreme Court today declined to grant a custodial parole to Om Prakash Srivastava alias Babloo Srivastava for getting married.

A vacation bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice Altamas Kabir, however, referred the matter to the Delhi High Court with directions to dispose of the petition, seeking damages worth Rs 100 crore from the Centre for violating the terms of his extradition from the Republic of Singapore in 1995, on merits.

The government had sought his extradition on the undertaking that he was required for being put to trial here in four criminal cases pending against him.

However, the gangster, who has been in solitary confinement for the last 11 years, is now being put to trial in 12 cases.

Responding to the plea of his custodial release in the wake of his marriage, the court said, ''Release on parole is not the subject matter'' of the case.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had dismissed a petition of the gangster on the grounds that the Allahabad High Court could deal with the matter more effectively even though it had the jurisdiction to entertain the petition.

UNI AKS/SC HS DS1332