London, February 17 Jaysukh Ranpariya, who is wanted in India to stand trial for four related murder conspiracies, on Tuesday sought permission to appeal against the extradition order issued by a UK court nearly three years ago.
The 45-year-old, also known as Jayesh Patel, appeared via video link from the high-security HMP Belmarsh prison in southeast London as his lawyers argued in the High Court in London for permission to appeal on grounds of human rights and lack of sufficient evidence for a prima facie case.
Justice Clive Sheldon is presiding over this week's hearings, which seek to challenge the ruling by District Judge Sarah-Jane Griffiths in the Westminster Magistrates' Court, which cleared Ranpariya's extradition in March 2023.
"I am satisfied to the necessary standard that the extradition request contains sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case," Griffiths had concluded.
The judgment is being challenged on multiple grounds, including the adequacy of the details provided; whether the offenses in the Indian government's request constitute extradition offenses; the sufficiency of evidence of the crimes; the risk of a life sentence without parole; Ranpariya's mental condition; and the risk of torture and inadequate medical care in an Indian prison, in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), appearing on behalf of the Indian authorities, argued in favor of Judge Griffiths' conclusion that both the Indian government (GOI) and the Gujarat state government had "provided adequate assurances" regarding the protection of the accused's human rights upon extradition to India.
"I find that India is a friendly foreign government. Relying on assurances from the GOI is 'a completely proper approach'. I also take into account that assurances given by India have been accepted in extradition proceedings by courts in England and Wales," the March 2023 judgment noted.
According to India's extradition request, each of the four related murder conspiracies for which Ranpariya is wanted to stand trial is linked to attempting to extort money or property from individuals connected with the sale and development of plots of land in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
According to court documents, the so-called contract killings led to the death of one of the victims, advocate Kirit Joshi, while three others survived.
Ranpariya is accused of seeking to take control of land owned by others by producing false documents or attempting to prevent or dissuade potential buyers from acquiring land being sold by his rivals. Individuals who were targeted or who took steps to support the victims of his extortion were said to have been subjected to "threats and intimidation."
The extradition proceedings are focused on the allegations of murder, conspiracy, and attempted murder that allegedly occurred between 2018 and 2021. Ranpariya was subject to an Interpol Red Notice and was arrested on March 17, 2021, and remains in prison in London.
High Court Judge Sheldon is set to decide whether he has any grounds for seeking permission to appeal or whether his extradition order stands following this week's hearings.