A UAE court has rejected the CBI’s request for the extradition of Sanjay Choudhary, a close aide of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda. Decision of the UAE court pertaining to Mr Choudhary’s extradition is being viewed as a setback to the agency which had been trying for his extradition since his arrest in Dubai on November 9, 2011.
Sources in the agency said, “A UAE court recently turned down the CBI’s request for Choudhary’s extradition. Order of the UAE court is being examined and other available options are being explored. The agency will certainly file an appeal before a higher court in UAE.” The CBI officials are also taking legal opinion in this regard, they added. Authorities in Dubai had arrested Mr Choudhary on November 9, 2011 on an Interpol red corner notice, which was issued on the request of the CBI.
“The agency officials are also in touch with Indian high commission in Dubai in this regard. If required, the agency may send a team of its officials to the UAE in connection with the case,” sources said. His extradition to India is important, they added.
Probe by the CBI revealed that Mr Chaudhary allegedly helped the former Jharkhand chief minister in routing his alleged illegal investments to various countries, including Liberia, UAE, Singapore and Ghana. The CBI officials want to interrogate him in connection with a disproportionate assets (DA) case also.
The CBI had already chargesheeted Mr Koda and two of his aides, Choudhary and Binod Sinha, in November 2011 in a designated court in Ranchi in connection with a case it had filed against them for possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.