Repatriate 'gangster' Kumar Pillai to Hong Kong: Court; cites acquittal in extradition cases

Mumbai court orders repatriation of acquitted gangster Kumar Pillai to Hong Kong, citing lack of extradition permissions for pending cases.

A Mumbai court has ordered the city police to take necessary steps to repatriate alleged gangster Kumar Pillai to his home country, Hong Kong, noting that he has been acquitted in all cases for which he was originally extradited.

A Supreme Court ruling has made it clear that in the absence of permission from the extraditing country, the applicant cannot be tried in India for any other pending cases, Special MCOCA Court Judge Satyanarayan R. Navander said in the order passed on February 13.

"Consequently, the prosecution is left with no option but to take steps to repatriate the applicant (Mr. Pillai) to his home country, namely Hong Kong," the Judge said.

There is no material on record to suggest that the prosecution has sought permission from the Hong Kong authorities to try Mr. Pillai in the other pending cases, the court noted.

Mr. Pillai, originally an Indian citizen, migrated to Hong Kong and acquired citizenship there. He was arrested in Singapore in 2016 following a 2012 Red Corner Notice and booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

India had sought his extradition from a competent court in Singapore for six pending cases against him. However, Mr. Pillai's extradition was permitted for the purpose of trial in three cases.