HC clears Kohli's extradition to UK

New Delhi, July 6(UNI) Delhi High Court today cleared the way for extradition of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, accused of raping and murdering British teenager Hannah Clair Foster in the UK four years ago.

A bench comprising Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice PK Bhasin dismissed the petition of Kohli, challenging the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's order to extradite him to UK, to face trial there on charges of raping and murdering the 17-year-old Hannah Foster.

After hearing the arguments of Kohli's lawyer, the bench ruled that there were sufficient grounds to extradite Kohli and upheld the ACMM's order.

ACMM Kamini Lau, after going through the records sent by the UK government, had on June 8, ruled that prima facie, there seemed to be a valid case for his extradition. Kohli had challenged this order on the grounds that the court did not rely on his statements whereas the DNA test also had some irregularities which did not confirm his involvement in the crime.

The charges against Kohli were that on the intervening night of 14-15 March, 2003, he waylaid Hannah Foster on a deserted road near Southampton when she was returning from a friend's house. Hannah tried to resist Kohli's advances and even called the emergency/distress phone services 999. Kohli allegedly raped and later on the girl, whose body was found among the bushes on the side of the road on March 16.

Immediately after the incident, Kohli fled to India on pretext of his mother's sickness, but did did not stay in Punjab and went into hiding. Meanwhile, the British police undertook a massive hunt against the killer. Kohli's vehicle was found, and a roadside surveillance camera on the streets confirmed his involvement.

When it was established that Kohli had fled to India, Hannah's parents came to India and offered a prize of Rs 50 lakh to the person, who gave information on his whereabouts.

Kohli was arrested on July 23, 2004 from Patnighata in Kalimpong, West Bengal, where he was staying under an assumed name. His photo was flashed on TV channels and newspapers and the West Bengal police apprehended him while he was trying to escape to Nepal.

A case was registered against himin Punjab, so the CBI sought his production warrants and proceedings for his extradition started in September,2004. Arguments were heard from the External Affairs ministry's counsel as well as Kohli's lawyer in the case,going on in the ACMM's Court at Patiala house.

UNI