The Delhi High Court has directed the Union of India to expedite the extradition of Amit Wadhwa, a US-based accused in a long-pending financial fraud and matrimonial cruelty case, and instructed the Tis Hazari trial court to conclude proceedings within a year, citing the decade-long delay’s impact on the complainant.
The order follows a writ petition by Sheenam Raheja, whose complaint under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120B IPC, filed in 2009, alleged that Wadhwa fraudulently withdrew over Rs.1.26 crore from her accounts and subjected her to matrimonial cruelty. Despite investigation completion years ago, no effective steps were taken to secure the accused’s presence in India.
The petition highlighted repeated delays by authorities, while Wadhwa, already a proclaimed offender, continues to reside in the US, participating remotely in certain proceedings. The government confirmed ongoing engagement with US authorities, including the Department of Justice, yet progress has been slow.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna stressed the urgency, noting the complainant’s persistent follow-ups, including RTI applications, as evidence of her prolonged struggle. The Court observed, “The matter has been pending since 2016, and the accused is fully aware of the proceedings,” emphasizing that prolonged inaction undermines justice.
Accordingly, the Court directed the Centre to take prompt, practical steps for extradition and instructed the trial court to conclude the criminal proceedings within one year.
Source ANI
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