Britain welcomes court ruling on Kohli's extradition

Britain welcomes the decision of a Delhi court to extradite fugitive Maninder Pal Singh Kohli to the country where he is wanted for the 2003 murder and rape of British teenager Hannah Foster.

Britain on Friday welcomed the decision of a Delhi court to extradite fugitive British Indian Maninder Pal Singh Kohli to the country where he is wanted for the 2003 murder and rape of British teenager Hannah Foster.

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"We are pleased at this positive development and grateful to the Indian authorities for the effort they have put into considering our extradition request," the British high commission said here in a statement.

"We hope that Kohli will soon be back in the UK to face trial for Hannah's murder," the high commission said.

A Delhi court on Friday allowed Kohli's extradition, accused of raping and killing 17-year-old Foster in March 2003, to face rape and murder charges, provided he is not given death penalty if found guilty.

"I hold that there is sufficient material on record which prima facie makes out a case for the extradition of fugitive criminal to the United Kingdom," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau said in her order clearing the extradition of Kohli.

Hannah was abducted near her home in Hampshire on March 14, 2003. She was found dead two days after her disappearance.

The murder hit headlines in Britain and India where Kohli was traced and arrested in 2004. British authorities worked in close association with the Indian police to trace Kohli and seek his extradition.