Hit-and-run: Victoria Premier seeks extradition of accused

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 16

Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria (Australia), has sought the extradition of Indian national Puneet Rawal, who is wanted for the death of an Australian youth in a decade-old hit-and-run case. Andrews, who is here to launch Victoria’s India Strategy, said he would raise the issue with Union Ministers.

Then 19, Puneet, a hospitality student, was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol when he ran over and killed nursing student Dean Hofstee (19) and seriously injured Clancy Coker (20), both from Queensland, on October 1, 2008, in Melbourne.

Awaiting sentence after having pleaded guilty to culpable driving, Puneet fled from Australia in June 2009 on a friend’s passport. He was arrested by the Patiala police in November 2013. He is currently out on bail. His extradition case is being heard by the Patiala House court here.

Speaking to The Tribune, Andrews dismissed Puneet’s allegations that if extradited, he would face racial hate. “Puneet will be treated no differently from any other prisoner. In his recent court appearance, he asked for forgiveness. The message I will give to the ministers I’m meeting is that there can be no forgiveness until there is justice. And that involves fronting up in Melbourne and doing the time for the crime that he committed.”

“This individual needs to face justice and give some closure to the families of the victim and the one who was badly injured,” Andrews added.

If extradited, Puneet could face up to 20 years of imprisonment under Australian law. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 2. Andrews is expected to meet Union Ministers Suresh Prabhu, Prakash Javadekar and senior MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) officials.

(With inputs from Patiala)