Gillard says Australia, India could consider extradition treaty during her visit

Melbourne, Aug.22 (ANI): Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has revealed that her country and India could consider parameters for an extradition treaty during her five-day visit from August 30.

The extradition treaty issue has once again acquired center stage attention after Australians expressed their outrage over a drunk learner driver fleeing to India on a false passport.

Puneet Puneet (Puneet Puneet), 19, had pleaded guilty to culpable driving after he fatally crashed his car into Gold Coast student Dean Hofstee, also 19, in central Melbourne last October.

He failed to come to court last week and police believe he left Australia on the passport of a fellow Indian student.

Gillard heads to India to ramp up the federal government's efforts to rehabilitate Australia's reputation on the subcontinent following reports of violence against Indian students.

"We as a government don't comment on individual extradition matters. But I can say this... as a government we take crime seriously and we want people to be brought to justice," the Daily Telegraph quoted her, as saying. (ANI)