In 28 yrs, first extradition from UK likely in Feb-end
THE EXTRADITION OF THE
BOOKIE WILL BE INDIA’S FIRST SUCCESSFUL ONE SINCE IT SIGNED THE TREATY WITH UK IN 1992
LONDON: Sanjeev Chawla, alleged to be involved in match fixing, will likely be extradited to India by the end of February after the high court of England and Wales refused him permission to appeal against his extradition to face charges of match-fixing during South Africa’s tour in 2000. It will be India’s first successful extradition since the treaty was signed with the UK in 1992.
The only previous instance of extradition was voluntary: Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, who was wanted in a case related to the 2002 Gujarat riots, agreed to be extradited in October 2016.
India is also hoping to extradite fugitive businessmen Vijay Mallya (who defaulted on loans and fled India) and Nirav Modi (who defrauded a bank and fled India) from the UK. Proceedings are on in both cases.
Chawla was refused permission to appeal during a hearing on January 16 and the relevant order to extradite him within 28 days was passed on January 23. The period in which he needs to be extradited under the Extradition Act 2003 will end in late February. After formalities are completed by Indian authorities, a team of Delhi Police is expected to arrive here to escort him to India, where he is listed to be lodged in Tihar Jail. New Delhi submitted three sovereign assurances about his safety in the jail.
There appears to be no further options for Chawla to block extradition.
According to court records, India sought Chawla’s extradition due to his criminal conduct between January and March 2000 to fix the outcome of forthcoming cricket matches between the touring South African and the Indian Test cricket teams, that came to light when law enforcement agencies undertook telephone tapping in an unrelated investigation. The conduct is contrary to the Indian Penal Code and amounts to a conspiracy to give corrupt payments in England and Wales, satisfying the requirement for extradition.