Chandigarh, May 26: More than 10 months after a state police team returned empty-handed from Canada where it had gone to bring back the two main accused in the Jassi honour killing case, the Ministry of External Affairs has initiated an inquiry into the failed extradition.
In September last year, a three-member police team had reached Canada after an over 17-year-long process for extradition of Jassi’s mother Malkiat Kaur and uncle Surjit Singh Badesha to face trial in India for allegedly conspiring her killing. On September 20, the team took into custody the two accused and even boarded a flight to India. However, just before the take-off, the Canadian authorities got them de-board the plane citing an order by the Canada Minister of Justice, staying the extradition proceedings.
Sources say the MEA wants to ascertain the reasons for the failed extradition. Reports from Canada claimed that the relatives of the accused had sought stay from the Minister of Justice on the plea that they were not informed about the move to take the accused to India.
A Punjab Police official said the Bureau of Investigation, who had sent the team, was preparing a detailed reply on the issue. Officials claim that the police team was not at fault as the necessary paper work was duly completed.
