HC refuses to stay Kohli's extradition order

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to stay the order allowing extradition of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, accused in rape and murder of British teenager Hannah Foster, to the United Kingdom and posted the hearing of his review petition on Thursday.

Kohli filed the review petition after the Supreme Court refused to grant him any relief and directed him to approach the High Court.

The Apex Court on July 20 had declined to entertain his petition challenging extradition and directed him to approach the High Court for the review of the order.

Kohli, who has been in custody for over two years now, has contended that that there was no prima facie evidence against him, which could be held by the magistrate as the  basis for allowing his extradition.

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 Kohli's appeal had said findings of the extradition magistrate shall be treated only as a prima facie and not as conclusive evidence.

The magistrate's court on June 8 had allowed the extradition of Kohli to United Kingdom.

The court, however, had made it clear that no death penalty be awarded to Kohli even after he was found guilty after the trial in United Kingdom.

Kohli is charged with raping and murdering the 17-year-old British girl and then fleeing to India from Britain two days after the victim's body was found.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on July 20 had moved an application before Additional Chief Metropolitian Magistrate here seeking issuance of broduction warrant against Kohli.

The MEA wants to take his photograph which is necessary for issuance of his duplicate passport, necessary for his deportation to the United Kingdom.