HIT-AND-RUN KILLER ‘MISSING’
Puneet vanishes ahead of possible extradition
A RUNAWAY hit-and-run killer – who fled overseas on a friend’s passport while on bail for killing a Gold Coaster in a drunken crash – has gone missing.
Puneet Puneet’s disappearance comes as authorities in India closed in on his extradition to face justice in Melbourne. On October 1, 2008, Puneet, then 19, hit and killed Dean Hofstee, a 19-year-old Gold Coast student in Melbourne.
Puneet’s lawyer said: “I hope right sense prevails and he returns.”
RUNAWAY hit-run killer Puneet Puneet has gone missing in India as authorities closed in on his extradition to face justice in Melbourne.
Puneet, who used a friend’s passport to flee overseas while on bail for killing Gold Coast student Dean Hofstee in a drunken crash in 2008, has not been seen since last Tuesday.
The Bulletin understands Puneet was due to face court today for one of the last hearings before being extradited to Australia.
But his father, Naresh Kumar, told local police last week that his son was missing, and family have since revealed he sold his car and disappeared with the cash.
“My son is facing an extra-authorities dition hearing in Delhi Court for an unfortunate accident in Australia,” Mr Kumar said in the police report.
“He is not keeping well and is mentally depressed. He has a four-year-old son.
“We searched everywhere but couldn’t find Puneet, so we are seeking police help to trace him.”
Puneet has been fighting extradition to Australia since fleeing in 2009.
Local inspector Joginder Singh said Puneet’s disappearance “is being investigated”, while his defence lawyer advocate Kanhaiya Kumar Singhal said his client’s vanishing act was “concerning”.
“Yes, he has run away from his home,” he said.
“His father called me and informed (me of) this. It is a matter of concern.
“I hope right sense prevails and he returns.”
Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said last night the state had made “urgent representations to the Commonwealth Government to express our deep concern” over reports Puneet had gone on the run.
“We will continue to work closely with them and relevant to ensure Mr Puneet is found and extradited back to Victoria as quickly as possible,” she said. “Mr Puneet needs to return to Victoria to face the consequences of his actions, and we won’t rest until justice is served.”
A spokesman for Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter said last night that “Australia’s interest in securing extradition in this matter remains”.
Mr Hofstee’s dad, Peter Hofstee, told the Bulletin last night he had not been told about Puneet fleeing his family home, to which he had been bailed by Indian authorities.
On October 1, 2008, then 19-year-old Puneet hit and killed Mr Hofstee, a 19-yearold student from the Gold Coast, while drunkenly speed ing along City Rd in Melbourne’s Southbank.
He pleaded guilty to culpable driving but in 2009 used a friend’s passport to flee to India while on bail awaiting sentence.
He was arrested by Indian police on his wedding day in 2013 but has bitterly been fighting extradition.
The cowardly driver has previously claimed that Australia has hounded him “like a killer terrorist”, and heartlessly offered to apologise to Mr Hofstee’s family – “if it really matters to them”.
His legal team has even dubbed Australia racist for its attempts to extradite Puneet to face justice.
Puneet was granted bail in the Delhi High Court on May 28 after his lawyer claimed he was suffering from a lifethreatening kidney condition. He was made to sign a surety bond of $4000 and asked not to leave the country without permission.
He was also advised to attend all extradition hearings in Delhi Patiala High Court where he is fighting his extradition to Australia.