Sri Lanka: India to seek KP’s extradition, team due next month

India to seek KP’s extradition, team due next month to interrogate?

August 28, 2009  09:40 am

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Indian media today claimed that Indiahas decided to place an extradition request for LTTE leader Kumaran Padmanadan, alias KP, nabbed by Sri Lanka earlier this month. A CBI team will leave for Colomboin September to grill KP on the “larger conspiracy” behind the 1991 Rajiv Gandhi assassination.

Sources in the ministry of home affairs ( MHA) said the multi- disciplinary monitoring agency ( MDMA) under the CBI has been given a one- year extension with directions to focus on KP’s interrogation and ensure his extradition to India.

The request for MDMA’s extension was pending with the MHA after its term ended on May 31.

“ MDMA has been given an extension last week after Sri Lanka announced KP’s arrest on August 7,” a top MHA official said.

KP is being interrogated by Sri Lankan officials after they nabbed him on August 5, reportedly on the basis of an input from Indian intelligence agencies, sources said.

Indiaaccused KP of criminal conspiracy, arms smuggling and involvement in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. He has been accused him of providing finances, arms, explosives, suicide vest and communication equipment to Dhanu and Sivarasan.

“KP’s interrogation by Indian agencies and his extradition could unravel what the Jain Commission indicated as the larger international conspiracy behind Rajiv’s killing,” the official said.

The MDMA has been on the job to unravel this “ larger conspiracy” for 11 years without success.

“The MDMA made many efforts to secure the custody of KP and seek information in the last many years by sending Letters Rogatory to 27 countries.

Last year, MDMA sent a team to Germany seeking banking details of the LTTE’s 54- year- old chief financier. But we could not get him all these years,” the official said.

“We expect Sri Lanka’s cooperation in extraditing KP to India,” the official added.