There was a brand new setback to Australia's bid to extradite a person who fled to India earlier than he may very well be sentenced for killing a teenage pedestrian.
Puneet Puneet was on bail in Victoria awaiting his sentencing over the 2008 demise of 19-year-old Dean Hofstee in Melbourne when he fled on a pal's passport.
He had been in custody in India since surrendering in September 2021.
Nonetheless, he has now been launched on bail.
The fugitive's attorneys mentioned the 33-year-old wanted to be allowed to go dwelling to take care of his sick and aged mother and father.
In keeping with court docket paperwork, Puneet's father had surgical procedure in June and wishes his son's assist. His mom "has a lung illness and there's no one to take care of her as effectively".
Each his mother and father are senior residents.
Prosecutors opposed bail, saying Puneet "is a flight threat and was apprehended solely after three years of search". They pointed to the actual fact Puneet fled Australia utilizing a passport that wasn't his.
Regardless of the objections, Puneet was granted bail by the Delhi Excessive Courtroom on July 7.
His bail circumstances embrace a surety of 20,000 rupees ($366), he should give up his passport and isn't allowed to depart India, and he should give authorities his cellphone quantity and have the system switched on 24 hours a day.
The following extradition listening to is scheduled for October 17 at Dehli Excessive Courtroom.
Puneet is preventing extradition, claiming he could be tortured in Australia, arguing it's a racist nation.
He pleaded responsible in 2009 to culpable driving inflicting demise earlier than he fled Australia later that very same 12 months.
He was a learner driver behind the wheel of a V6 Commodore, drunk and rushing in 2008 when he misplaced management of the automobile and mounted the footpath, killing Hoftsee and severely injuring one other scholar, Clancy Coker.
A spokesperson for Lawyer-Basic Mark Dreyfus mentioned extraditing Puneet "stays a really excessive precedence for the Australian authorities".
"Indian authorities are accountable for pursuing Australia's extradition request via the Indian courts and the Australian authorities is grateful to Indian authorities for his or her ongoing help in progressing this request."