Even as the extradition of Salim Karimi, wanted for a multi-million-dollar fraud in the United States, has reached a crucial stage, Mumbai Police officials are concerned that he continues to stay out of jail while the appeal against his bail drags on in court.
Karimi, (50), a US national of Indian origin, was arrested on December 26 last year after a Red Corner Notice showed up against his name while he was trying to board a flight to Mexico. Further investigations revealed that Karimi was wanted for defrauding the city government of Los Angeles to the tune of millions of dollars, and the Mumbai Police Crime Branch began the process of extraditing him to the US. However, on January 4, he was granted bail by the Metropolitan Magistrate’s court. On January 14, the Crime Branch filed an appeal against his bail which is being heard by the Sessions Court.
Senior police officials confirmed to The Hindu that the process of Karimi’s extradition reached a crucial phase a week back. While officials declined to reveal the exact stage, they said that the process was half complete. However, the fact that Karimi is still out on bail continues to jeopardise the process, even though his passport is still in the custody of the Crime Branch, as it would be next to impossible to track him if he disappeared somewhere inside the country, leading to loss of face for the Mumbai Police at an international level, said officials.
The police, in their appeal, have outlined the importance of Karimi being kept in custody, as he is wanted for a high profile crime in a country with which India needs to maintain cordial relations.
“Matters of extradition are always given the highest priority as the relations and goodwill between two countries depend on this. With the US, we have, over the years, built a good relationship, and there has been give-and-take on a lot of matters with them; the recent deposition of David Headley via video conferencing being only the latest example. It would be embarrassing if we let Karimi slip through our fingers, which is why we have strongly opposed his bail,” a senior police officer said.
On Monday, the sessions court further adjourned the matter to April 7.
