New Delhi: The CBI is yet to approach
British authorities for the extradition of elusive
Mohammad Hanif alias Tiger Patel, an accused in 1993 Surat
bombing who was arrested by Scotland Yard last month.
Mohammad Hanif Umerji Patel, who dogged the police of
half a dozen countries during last 17 years, was arrested by
authorities in United Kingdom from a grocery store in Bolton
about 16 kilometers from Manchester.
Wanted in India for Surat bombings, which left an
eight-year-old girl dead and 12 others injured, Hanif, 49, was
known among his friends as Tiger Patel and was living in
hiding since the incident as a Red Corner Notice was issued
against him by the Interpol.
The process to bring him back to India is yet to start
as CBI has not formally approached the British authorities
with an extradition request.
CBI is gathering the required documents as the case is
pretty old and will first approach the court in Surat for a
fresh production warrant
Tiger Patel has been remanded in custody and will
appear in City of Westminister Magistrate Court on March 25
where the India government's application for his extradition
will come up.
In India, 17 men have been convicted for their role in
the bombing and awarded jail term ranging from ten years to
life imprisonment including. These include former Gujarat
Minister Mohammed Surti who had been sentenced to 20 years in
jail in 2008.
Patel was allegedly working for Ahmedabad ganglord
Sheikh Abdul Latif who had a strong connection with
International terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.
After Mumbai serial blasts in 1993, Latif carried out
grenade attacks at several places in Surat and Ahmedabad in
which Patel allegedly played a crucial part.
He was allegedly in the group which used the grenades
in the attack on Surat railway station and near Sadhna School
in Varacha area, killing the eight-year-old girl.
Patel, who had been arrested by the police, managed to
secure bail. He later jumped the bail and fled to United
Kingdom where he was found working as a greengrocer.
However, his family members denied he had been working
at the grocery store in Daubhill.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 07, 2010, 18:13