Shankaran extradition case: 14-day appeal deadline passes

Ravi Shankaran, a key accused in the Naval War Room leak case, today said his extradition case stands "fully dismissed" and "closed" as the 14-day deadline has passed without any appeal from the CBI against the UK High Court's verdict turning down its request to deport him to India.
The UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed that the CBI has not appealed against the High Court verdict.
"With the UK High Court Judgement becoming final, the extradition case against the Appellant (Shankaran) stands fully dismissed and hence closed," Shankaran's defence team said in a statement here.
"The Appellant however reserves the right to pursue further remedies under international and Indian law," it said.

Justices Sir Brian Leveson and Blake, sitting in the Queen's Bench Division in London, had ruled on April 1 against the former Indian Navy officer's extradition as the "prima facie case that must be established collapses".
47-year-old Shankaran was accused by the CBI of allegedly leaking classified Naval information running into over 7,000 pages from the Naval War Room and Air Defence Headquarters to arms dealers and a case was registered against him in March 2006.

His passport was revoked in May that year and an Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against him in July 2006.
An extradition request was sent to the UK in 2007 following reports that he was in the country and he was arrested by UK authorities in April 2010 on the basis of the non-bailable arrest warrants issued by the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi.

The CPS, presenting the case on behalf of the CBI, had advised the investigating agency that there were no legal grounds to lodge an appeal in the Supreme Court.
"The 14-day deadline for an appeal has now passed and as previously stated, the CPS had advised the Indian authorities that an appeal against the High Court's decision is not possible," a CPS spokesperson said here.
"The defence's costs will be awarded from central funds in the UK," he added.
Defendants acquitted in England and Wales who had privately funded their case can apply for their legal costs to be reimbursed from central funds, which is UK taxpayer funded.

The costs are being drawn up but Shankaran's defence team estimates the figure to be around 125,000 pounds.