Overview
- Additional sessions judge R. B. Rote on Monday set aside the open, non-bailable warrant that had been issued last month in the 2007 Vikhroli murder case.
- The court cited Section 21 of the Extradition Act and held that Indian courts lack jurisdiction to prosecute offences not covered by the extradition order.
- The order noted prosecutors knew of the 2007 case since 2016 yet did not seek Singapore’s consent, and it recorded that co-accused in that matter were acquitted on merits.
- A special MCOCA court on February 13 directed police to begin repatriating Pillai to Hong Kong after his acquittals in the three cases for which he was extradited.
- Mumbai Police had obtained the warrant to approach Singapore for permission to add a fourth case, while Pillai’s FRRO exit and visa request has remained pending since May 2024.