Chaini Parwani –
Published On: December 10, 2021 at 15:30 IST
The High Court in England on Thursday rejected an Appeal by Indian authorities pleading to Appeal against a Magistrate’s Court Order turning down the extradition on Human Rights grounds of Kuldeep Singh.
Singh alias Keepa Sidhu is demanded in India as a claimed Senior Member of the banned Terrorist Organisation Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF).
Further Singh is also charged with conspiring with others to commit terrorism in Punjab in the years 2015-16, comprising a plot to execute murder of then Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal respectively.
The District Judge Gareth Branston highlighted that as the offences carry highest Sentences, no possibility of an evaluation of such a Life Sentence with a view to its commutation, remission, termination or conditional release as it would be contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
Furthermore, High Court Justices Nicola Davies and Pushpinder Saini stated that the comprehensive and clearly reasoned Judgement of the District Judge cannot be faulted.
Singh is charged under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act pertained to raising funds for Terrorism, Conspiracy and being a member of a Terror Outfit and of the Arms Act related to Firearms Offences.
Earlier in October 2019 Singh was arrested at Loughborough Immigration Reporting Centre in eastern England while he was on immigration Bail.
Furthermore, the Indian authorities were fortuitous in September 2020, to revoke the Bail.
District Judge Branston while directing his Judgment in January stated that “There is no evidence that Mr Singh has previously been ill-treated in India. This country has considered and accepted previous assurances by the Indian government. There is no cogent evidence to suggest that they will not be complied with.”