The Delhi High Court has stayed the extradition of a Bangladeshi national to the U.S. to face trial in a 25-year-old murder case there. Mehfuz Huq was to be handed over to the U.S. Embassy marshals here on Friday but Justice G.P. Mittal stayed his conveyance to that country till the next hearing on March 18.
Justice Mittal also issued notice to the Union Home and External Affairs Ministries and the Superintendent of the Tihar Central Jail No.1, seeking their replies to Huq’s petition challenging the inquiry report by an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) here recommending his extradition.
Counsel Jayant Sud said the mandatory provisions of the Extradition Act 1962 were not being followed. The government was attempting to extradite the petitioner though there was no adequate and cogent material from the requesting state.
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Huq said he was not provided adequate opportunity to put forth his views to the government against the ACMM’s report — a violation of his rights.
The Delhi police arrested Huq at Indira Gandhi International Airport in 2011 on his arrival here from Dhaka with some school children for a tournament. He is facing prosecution for the murder of 19-year-old Todd Kelly in the U.S. After allegedly committing the crime, he fled to his native country and started working as teacher in the school run by the U.S. Embassy there.