India’s Supreme Court has ordered a multi-agency team in the country to track down and apprehend a Gujarati man hiding in Kenya after failing to pay his wife’s dowry and maintenance for nearly eight years.
On Tuesday, April 26, the apex court further directed the police to liaise with the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs to apply for the man’s extradition from Kenya. The Times of India reported.
Through her lawyers, the wife lamented that the husband and his parents colluded to have him escape to Kenya and further kept his whereabouts closely guarded.
She told the judges that the in-laws lied to her that her husband went on a trip to Nigeria, contrary to the police’s finding.
A high-ranking police officer confirmed that they traced him to Kenya.
The husband’s attorneys, however argued, that the wanted Gujarati man was not aware of the cases filed in court.
The court rejected their plea arguing that they were keen on delaying the proceedings.
The judges also learnt that an injunction had been placed against her suit as the in-laws asked the court to quash her case.
In their ruling, the two-judge-bench argued that the fugitive had disobeyed multiple courts orders directing him to appear for hearings in the dowry harassment case and nonpayment of maintenance.
“We told you several times not to play with the court. Now you must face the consequences,” the judges cited contempt of court.
Police were as well instructed to confiscate the suspect’s passport and also initiate the process for issuance of a red corner notice if necessitated.
“Take all necessary steps to bring HP (suspect) back to India so that the proceedings can continue against him under the criminal law.
“The state police is at liberty, as available in law, to secure the presence of the husband in India, to take all necessary steps in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the Ministry of External Affairs,” the Supreme Court ruled.
