HC reserves order on Indian priest's plea against extradition

The Delhi High Court today reserved its verdict on a plea challenging a trial court order recommending extradition to US of an Indian Catholic priest accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in that country during his stay in 2004.
Justice Pratibha Rani reserved the verdict after counsel for Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and accused Rev Joseph Palanivel Jeyapaul concluded their arguments.
Jeyapaul, 59, had approached the High Court after his representation to the Centre challenging the trial court decision recommending his extradition was rejected by the MEA on October 30 and an order to extradite him issued on October 31.

The High Court, however, on November 3 restrained the Centre from extraditing the accused.
The Centre had told the court that there is a "prima facie" case against Jeyapaul, warranting his extradition.
Jeyapaul was arrested on March 16, 2012 at Chimitahalli near Sathyamangalam in Erode district of Tamil Nadu and has since been lodged in Tihar jail.

The trial court had said that a "prima facie" a case was made out for Jeyapaul's extradition.
If extradited, he will stand trial on the charge of a "first degree criminal sexual conduct" in Minnesota. If convicted for offences alleged against him there, the accused may get a jail term of up to 30 years.

The MEA said that according to records received from the US Embassy, Jeyapaul was serving as a priest in three churches in Minnesota and had allegedly met the girl during a conference.
It had said the girl went to the church in 2004 when he allegedly sexually assaulted her and continued to abuse her till August 2005.