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Govt to seek extradition of Rastogi from Britain: CBI

The government will seek extradition of London-based businessman Virender Rastogi and it has already informed the British authorities about revocation of his passport as the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed two chargesheets against him and others in the Rs 430 million duty drawback scam.

The extradition papers would be routed to the Scotland Yard police through the ministry of external affairs after completing the diplomatic formalities, agency sources said in New Delhi on Thursday.

Besides seeking a Red Corner notice against Virender Rastogi from the Interpol, the CBI has also obtained a non-bailable warrant against him.

Rastogi is an influential businessman in London and deals in non-ferrous metals. He is among the top 20 non-resident Indians.

Rastogi, along with three other brothers, was alleged to have floated 15 Delhi-based export companies in collusion with certain customs officials and these companies exported bicycle parts to Russia and Hong Kong from Mumbai during 1995-96 at an exorbitant price and claimed excessive duty drawback on such exports, which were estimated to be about Rs 429 million, causing loss to the government.

The CBI has also moved the papers for a similar action against two other Rastogi brothers -- Ravinder (in Dubai) and Narender (in the United States) -- and their associates in Moscow and Britain.

However, CBI sources said that exact travel documents of the other two Rastogi brothers were not known as yet.

The agency recently filed two chargsheets against the Rastogi brothers including Virender in designated courts of Mumbai and Chennai of which the courts took cognizance.

Virender has expressed his "readiness to co-operate with its (CBI) investigation by meeting them in London" but the agency has asked him to make himself available with the Economic Offence Wing in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, CBI was preparing to file more chargesheets against the Rastogi brothers as the agency had filed 10 cases against them.

The agency also secured a non-bailable warrant against one Anand Jain, claimed to be close confidant of Virender, whom the agency alleges of being involved in money laundering, duty drawbacks and over-invoicing.

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