— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

FACING EXTRADITION: Murder suspect Maninder Pal Singh Kohli being produced at the Patiala House Courts in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: A court here on Friday allowed the extradition of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, who allegedly criminally assaulted and killed British teenager Hannah Foster in 2003 and fled to India, to the United Kingdom where he would face trial.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau said a prima facie case was made out as there was sufficient material on record against him. The court relied on forensic, medical and photographic evidence submitted by the British police.

The External Affairs Ministry had also submitted that Kohli's was a fit case for extradition as he had fled from the country where he was accused of committing the crime and tried to evade arrest subsequently.

As the order was read out, Kohli claimed that he was innocent. He told the court that his life would be in danger in the U.K. He expressed apprehension that he would not be given a fair trial as he was an Asian. However, the court said it took the decision on the basis of evidence on record. Kohli can now challenge the order only once in a higher court. His counsel indicated that they would approach the Delhi High Court.

Prosecution counsel Naveen Matta said it was now up to Central authorities and the requesting country to fix a date for extradition.

Soon after the order was pronounced, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the U.K. issued a statement expressing satisfaction at the "positive development."

"We are grateful to the Indian authorities for the effort they have put into considering our extradition request. We hope that Kohli will soon be back in the U.K. to face trial for Hannah's murder," the statement said.

The victim's mother, Hillary Foster, told a television news channel here over phone that while she and her family members were awaiting Kohli's extradition, they would be satisfied only when he was convicted.

Held in West Bengal

Hannah was found murdered on the outskirts of Southampton, Hampshire, in March 2003. A couple of days later, Kohli, whose name came up as the main suspect, fled to India. He was arrested on July 14, 2004 at Kalimpong in West Bengal, a day after Hanna's parents held a press conference in the Capital.

Extradition proceedings against Kohli began in September 2004. He was brought to the Capital and lodged in the Tihar Central Jail. During the proceedings, Kohli sought to refute all the evidence produced against him by the British police. He had also lodged complaints with the court saying there was a threat to his life in Tihar.

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