Sanjeev Chawla extradition case: India assures UK court on Tihar facilities

India has submitted its third sovereign assurance in the Sanjeev Chawla extradition case to the United Kingdom high court that had sought more details of toilets and other facilities which will be available to him at Tihar jail if he is extradited to face cricket match-fixing charges.

The high court had sought the details on May 4 while staying India’s appeal against the Westminster Magistrates Court’s refusal to extradite Chawla in connection with his alleged role in match-fixing during South Africa’s tour of India in 2000.

The high court had also given the Crown Prosecution Service, acting on India'sbehalf, 42 daysto submit the assurance. Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the assurance had been submitted andthe court is nowexpected to give its final ruling.

The assurance from India’s home ministry related to personal space that will be available to Chawla, toilet facilities (shared or not), the ways in which he will be kept free from the risk of intra-prisoner violence, and a guarantee of medical treatment.

Judges George Leggatt and James Dingemans saw a “real risk” that Chawla’s human rights would be breached under the European Convention of Human Rights if extradited, but gave India time tosubmit the fresh details. The previous two assurances were considered inadequate.

The judges said in the May 4 ruling that “if matters remain as they are the appeal will be dismissed”.

Assurances on behalf of the Indian state have been submitted in several extradition cases, including those related to Tiger Hanif (wanted in connection with two bomb attacks in Gujarat in 1993), Ravi Shankaran (Indian Navy war room leak case) and Vijay Mallya (financial charges).