New Delhi, July 6
Delhi High Court today cleared the way for the extradition of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, accused of raping and murdering British teenager Hannah Clair Foster in the UK four years ago.

A bench comprising Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice PK Bhasin dismissed the petition of Kohli, challenging the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's order to extradite him to the UK, to face trial there on charges of raping and murdering the 17-year-old Hannah Foster.

Maninder's counsel CS Bakshi argued that nature of the findings recorded by ACMM Kamini Lau on June 8, 2007, were not ''conclusive and indicting.''

The petitioner argued, the findings recorded by the ACMM would prejudice his client severely in any proceedings in UK.

However, the counsel for the Central Government AK Vali held that that the findings were indeed prima facie.

The court agreed with the Central Government treating the findings as prima facie whatever the semantics.

The ACMM Kamini Lau, after going through the records sent by the UK government, had on June 8, ruled that prima facie, there seemed to be a valid case for his extradition. Kohli had challenged this order on the grounds that the court did not rely on his statements whereas the DNA test also had some irregularities which did not confirm his involvement in the crime. — UNI