India hopes Nepal extradites Dr Kidney soon

New Delhi: Amit Kumar, the alleged kingpin of the multi-crore kidney racket, might be deported back to India from Nepal as early as next week.

The Nepal police arrested him on Thursday evening from a resort in Chitwan following a Red Corner notice by the Interpol.

India hopes to avoid the lengthy extradition process because then Amit can fight against his extradition in Nepalese courts and use the opportunity to prolong his stay in the Himalayan country.

"Interpol Delhi and the CBI are in touch with Interpol Kathmandu. As in the past we had excellent cooperation with Nepal government. We believe in this case also they cooperation shall be forth coming," Vijay Shankar, Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said.

Cooperation on handing over criminals between the two neighbouring countries has always been smooth.

In the past, Kathmandu has informally handed over many Indian criminals sheltered in Nepal and New Delhi has responded with sending back Maoist leaders hiding in India.

But Indian authorities can lay their hands on Amit only if Nepal decides not to press charges against him right away.

"Itna mein dave ke saath keh sakta hoon ki duniya ke doosre desh se pratyarpan mein samay lagta hai, Bharat aur Nepal mein pratyarpan mein usse kum samay lagta hai (Extradition between India and Nepal does not take as much time as it takes with some other country)," Sriprakash Jaiswal, Union Minister of State (Home), said.

But Amit Kumar can breathe easy for now. When he is brought to India, he will be charged under "Transplantation of Human Organs Act".

Under that Act he can be imprisoned for only two years, which may be extended to seven years under multiple charges.

Moreover he cannot be punished till commercial transaction from organ transplant is established.

But if investigating agencies can bring criminal charges against him, especially forcing donors to part with their kidneys, then Amit can find it difficult even to get bail.

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