The prime suspect in the Naval warroom leak case, Ravi Shankaran, seems to have tried to escape extradition from London on the pretext of poor prison conditions in India. It was a plea that the main accused in Purulia Arms drops case, Kim Davy, had used in a Danish court to escape extradition.
According to sources, Mr Shankaran’s lawyer recently raised the issue of poor prison conditions in Indian jail in the London’s Westminster magistrates’ court where India’s extradition request listing his alleged role in the crime was being heard.
Sources said, “Although Mr Shankaran’s lawyer has not moved any written complaint in the court so far, the Indian authorities will leave no stone unturned to counter his plea through the Crown Prosecutor Services (CPS), which is the prosecuting agency in the naval warroom leak case in a British court.” His lawyer verbally raised the issue of alleged poor prison conditions in India in the court in the last hearing, sources said.
The probe agency will provide full assistance to the CPS in the next hearing of the British court, which is likely to take place in the month of September. The agency officials will try and expedite the process of extradition of Mr Shankaran by interacting with officials of the agency concerned in London, sources added. Extradition of Mr Shankaran is necessary for the naval warroom leak case to unravel the missing links, sources added.
A key accused in the Naval war room leak case, Mr Shankaran, was arrested by the metropolitan police in London on April 21, 2010.