Car accident in Australia: Youth sent to judicial custody

A youth, accused of killing a man after ramming his speeding car on a footpath in Australia in 2008, was today remanded in judicial custody till December 18 by a Delhi court.
24-year-old Puneet, who was arrested in Punjab on November 29, this year after a court here had issued an arrest warrant against him in pursuance to an extradition request received from Australian authorities, was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Sheetal Chaudhary.
The magistrate remanded Puneet in judicial custody till December 18, when the matter relating to the extradition request would also be taken up by the court.
Puneet has also filed a plea before the court contending that his trial be conducted in India "on account of having threat to his life in Australia because of racism attitude of the Australians towards the Indian citizens".

"Further, this court is very well aware of the fact that in the year 2008 and 2009, so many Indian citizens especially students of younger age have been murdered and seriously injuries in Australia only on account of racism behaviour of Australians towards the Indian citizens," he alleged.
He also claimed that an award of one lakh Australian dollars has been announced there only for providing information about him.
According to the red corner notice issued against Puneet, he was driving a sedan car in Southbank in Australia on October 1, 2008 at a speed of 148 km per hour and struck a concrete pillar. Two pedestrians, who were walking on the footpath, received grevious injuries in the accident, it said.

Out of the two, one succumbed to the injuries, it said, adding that Puneet has been charged on account of culpable driving causing death and negligently causing serious injury.