By IANS
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Monday temporarily suspended the extradition of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, who is alleged to have raped and murdered British teenager Hannah Foster in March 2003 in Southampton, till it disposed of his petition.
Staying Kohli's extradition, a bench of Justices P.K. Bhasin and Pradeep Nandrajog fixed July 6 to hear his petition challenging a June 8 lower court recommendation to the central government that he be sent to Britain for trial in the case.
"It is directed that petitioner (Kohli) would not be deported to the United Kingdom till the matter is disposed in the court," the bench said.
It issued notices to the central government and the ministry of external affairs, seeking their replies to Kohli's plea to quash the lower court order.
The bench also called for all the relevant documents.
Kohli, a British Indian, is accused of abducting, raping and killing 17-year-old Hannah on March 14, 2003 near her home in Southampton. He fled to India after the incident and was arrested on July 14, 2004, near Kalimpong in West Bengal.
In his petition to the high court, Kohli has challenged the order of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau. According to him, Lau recommended his extradition despite there being no clinching forensic evidence of his role.
Kohli has also referred to racial bias against Asians in western countries and said he did not expect to get any justice in Britain.
The lower court, while allowing Kohli's extradition, had said that his DNA profile, as inferred from samples taken from his wife and children, matched the semen samples found on the body of deceased Hannah Foster, and this further prima facie corroborated his alleged involvement.
Besides the forensic evidence, the lower court had listed other scientific evidence, including closed circuit TV footage, statements of witnesses and Kohli's behaviour and conduct after the crime to recommend his deportation.