UK advises India against pursuing Shankaran extradition

In their written judgement released here on Friday, the judges had laid out the facts of the proceedings, which commenced in 2010.

“To date, the proceedings have lasted three years: the District Judge did not put the blame for such delay on the appellant (Shankaran). In the meantime, it is not in dispute that proceedings in India have also moved at what can only be described as a sluggish pace,” the order reads.  

“It took around six years (from initial arrest in April 2006 until an appellate decision of the Indian courts dated 11 May 2012) for the Indian defendants to secure bail. As at that date, the documentary basis of the case against them had still not been disclosed,” it adds.

An extradition order had been issued by UK Home Secretary Theresa May in May last year following a ruling by District Judge Nicolas Evans at Westminster Magistrates' Court.  

Shankaran had challenged the Home Secretary's order in the High Court, which analysed the case under speciality arrangements in place under Article 13 of the UK-India 1992 Extradition Treaty and upheld his appeal against being extradited.

Shankaran is accused of allegedly leaking classified Naval information to arms dealers under a CBI case registered in March 2006.