SC refuses to stay Kohli extradition

Kohli had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Extradition Magistrate8217;s order, allowing the plea of the Ministry of External Affairs to extradite him to face trial in the UK.

Earlier the Delhi High Court had modified the order of the Extradition Magistrate which dealt with the merits of the case. The High Court on Kohli8217;s appeal had said findings of the Extradition Magistrate shall be treated only as prima facie and not as a conclusive evidence.

Kohli8217;s petition in the apex court contended that the High Court only dealt with the adverse observations made by the Extradition Magistrate on the accused but it did not go into the merits of the order and contended that the evidence against Kohli was full of contradictions.

Extradition Magistrate Kamini Lau allowed Kohli8217;s extradition on June 8 saying that there was 8220;sufficient prima facie evidence against the accused to justify his extradition8221; . The court observed that his fleeing Britain on the pretext of visiting his ailing mother and his efforts to evade arrest made it a fit case to extradite him.