No matter how hard America tries, extradition of former RAW agent will not be easy, it will take many years to send him/her back.

New Delhi: The arrest of former RAW officer Vikas Yadav, accused of conspiring to murder Khalistan supporter Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in America, may create obstacles in America’s extradition efforts. Delhi Police has charged Vikas Yadav with robbery and kidnapping, for which he/she can face a punishment of 10 years.

America put Vikas Yadav in the most wanted list

Vikas Yadav was Assistant Commandant in CRPF before joining RAW. he/she was arrested in December last year. he/she is out on regular bail and will contest charges that he/she committed serious crimes after being released from service due to US charges. America has sought his/her extradition after putting him/her in the ‘most wanted’ list. But, considering the speed of disposal of such cases in Indian courts, the matter may drag on for a long time. Yadav’s extradition can happen only after the trial is over and his/her sentence is completed.

Reminder for extradition of David Headley

India may also send another reminder to the US about its pending request for extradition of David Coleman Headley alias Dawood Geelani, one of the Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives who conducted recce for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. More than 150 innocent civilians were killed in the 26/11 attacks, including American citizens. An American citizen of Pakistani origin who had also worked as an informant for the US Drug Enforcement Agency, Dawood had traveled to India on a US passport to avoid investigation by Pakistani nationals.

Tahawwur Rana’s extradition request also pending

India’s request for the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian travel agent who helped the LeT conspiracy by arranging tickets for Headley, is also pending. Although the US court has approved Rana’s extradition from a Los Angeles jail, his/her lawyers have adopted new tactics to thwart the attempt to make India face the law. Rana had filed a Habeas Corpus petition to oppose his/her extradition, but it was rejected and the extradition was approved last year.

In its decision, the panel also held that India had presented sufficient and competent evidence before the magistrate judge that Rana was involved in the accused crimes. The jury found him/her guilty of conspiring to assist a foreign terrorist organization and supporting a failed LeT plot in Denmark.

Big task to hand over to Headley

Of the two, handing over Headley, who is lodged in a Chicago jail, may be more difficult for the US because of his/her deep ties with the DEA, which appears to ignore signals pointing to his/her links with Lashkar-e-Taiba .

Case is going on against Vikas Yadav in India also

Last year, Vikas Yadav and his/her alleged associates were booked for robbery and kidnapping for ransom on the complaint of Delhi’s Markaz Cafe and Lounge owner Rajkumar Walia. There is a provision of 10 years imprisonment in both the crimes.

In her complaint, Walia had alleged that Yadav and his/her associate Abdullah Khan had kidnapped her in an Ertiga car and taken her to a room in South Delhi’s Defense Colony. Upon reaching there, Walia was told that his/her Dubai-based rival named Jalaluddin alias Sameer had ordered the attack on him/her and that the matter could be resolved if he/she paid the money. They allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh and snatched Rs 50,000 besides a chain and a ring.