Patiala cops catch Australian convict

Australian fugitive Puneet, 24, wanted in a 2009 hit-and-run case Down Under and carrying $1-lakh (Rs 62.45 lakh) reward on his arrest, was caught in Panipat on Sunday. The Patiala police made the arrest.

Australian fugitive Puneet, 24, wanted in a 2009 hit-and-run case Down Under and carrying $1-lakh (Rs 62.45 lakh) reward on his arrest, was caught in Panipat on Sunday. The Patiala police made the arrest.

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An Interpol red corner notice against him was out when he escaped from Australia on being sentenced to seven-year imprisonment for killing a youth (19) and injuring his friend. Before moving to Australia, Puneet lived in Haryana's Panchkula town.

"We have moved Puneet to the judicial custody and informed the Austrialian high commission," said Banur station house officer (SHO) Bikramjit Singh Brar. In 2009, Puneet was convicted in Southbank, Australia. Without serving the sentence, he fled to India, using the passport of a friend who was, later, jailed for preventing justice.

It was last year that Australian police announced the $1-lakh (Rs 62.45 lakh) reward for any tip leading to Puneet's arrest. The Indian police also published advertisements in local newspapers to invite information.

Now lodged in Patiala Central Jail, he will face extradition hearing in New Delhi, where the foreign ministry has approached the Patiala House court for an arrest warrant against him.