NEW DELHI (India), November 30: Australian national, Rajwinder Singh was today produced in Delhi’s Patiala House Court, starting his extradition proceedings to Australia. Rajvinder is accused of killing Australian woman Toyah Cordingley in 2018, in Queensland, and later the accused escaped to India via the Sydney Airport leaving behind his wife and three children.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Nabeela Wali listed the case for 17 December 2022, when the prosecutor will start giving the evidence for extradition. Australia sought the accused’s extradition in 2021. The Magistrate also ordered all case documents to be given to the accused’s lawyer after he submitted before the court that he has not been supplied the documents.
The court had on November 25 remanded Rajwinder Singh to judicial custody. He was arrested and produced before Patiala House Court by the Delhi police special cell on November 25. Earlier a non-bailable warrant was issued for the arrest of Rajwinder by the court.
ANI reports, Rajwinder was in Australia for 10 years and was working as a male nurse. The woman who was allegedly killed by him was unknown to him. He has a BSc degree. He also got Australian citizenship and he was married to a woman also an Australian citizen. The Delhi police special cell had arrested Rajwinder Singh. The Queensland police had offered 1 million Australian dollars, the largest ever offered by the department for giving information about the accused. Rajwinder Singh is being held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
Indian media reports indicate Rajwinder Singh allegedly told police investigators he stabbed Cordingley on Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, Queensland after an argument over her dog barking at him.
Extradition proceedings in India are slow amid thousands of pending cases before courts, though the prosecution has assured a fast trial.
Australia’s AG, The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP had said, ” This matter is a high priority for the Australian Government, and Australian agencies continue to work closely with Indian authorities to pursue Mr. Singh’s extradition to Australia, to enable him to face justice. I acknowledge the work of the Queensland Police, Australian Federal Police, and the Attorney-General’s Department as well as the Indian authorities in this matter. As the matter is currently before the Indian courts it is not appropriate to comment further.”
– With ANI inputs.
