'Indian judiciary subservient to the government', Katju reasons as he prepares to depose in UK court against Nirav Modi's extradition
text_fields
New Delhi: Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju has confirmed that he will depose as a in a court in the United Kingdom against the extradition of fugitive economic offender Nirav Modi to India.
On Friday, Justice Katju will testify in the court proceedings before London's Westminster Magistrates' Court via video conferencing.
Justice Katju said that he will oppose India's plea for extradition on the ground that he was unlikely to receive a 'free and fair trial in India' as the judiciary here is subservient to the government.
The former judge has made a submission in the court wherein he stated that Modi was subjected to 'media trial' in India and that in such a 'hostile atmosphere', he was unlikely to receive a free and fair trial in India.
Referring to the public comments made by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad against Nirav Modi, Katju asked how will the courts here try the case independently when the Law Minister has already declared him guilty.
Katju has cited the 2018 press conference of the judges, Babri Masjid land title dispute case etc to support his claim that the Indian judiciary was committed to the executive.
Nirav Modi is facing accusations of committing offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Indian Penal Code etc in relation to the Rs. 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank scam.