Chilean senator murder: SC to hear plea of jailed French woman

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear on Friday the plea of jailed French national Marie Emmanuelle Verhoeven challenging her arrest and extradition proceedings initiated by the Centre at the request of Chile for her alleged involvement in the assassination of a senator there in 1991.
"Let it come up for hearing on Friday," a bench comprising Justices T S Thakur and Kurian Joesph said after senior lawyer T R Andhyarujina, appearing for 56-year-old Verhoeven, sought an urgent hearing.
Andhyarujina also said the re-arrest of Verhoeven "gravely prejudiced" her fundamental rights under the Constitution.
During brief hearing, the bench inquired about charges against the woman and fixed it for hearing on October 9.

Besides seeking "immediate release", the plea, filed through lawyer Ramni Taneja, has also sought a direction to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which is pursuing the extradition proceedings on behalf of Chile, to quash the ongoing inquiry before a magisterial court in New Delhi.
The plea has sought a direction quashing the gazette notification of April 29 and the order dated April 28, issued by the MEA recording the Extradition Treaty between India and Chile on the ground that it was unconstitutional and ultra vires of the Constitution.

The plea has also sought quashing of the extradition request, made on March 24, by the Government of Chile through the MEA, before the court here.

"This case has serious and critical international implications and very sensitive and important constitutional implications under Indian law... The fundamental rights of the petitioner under the Constitution of India are gravely prejudiced by the mala fide acts of the Respondent No. 1 (MEA), who represents Republic of Chile in the extradition proceedings," the plea said.
Verhoeven, arrested on February 16 this year from Uttar Pradesh on the basis of a red corner notice issued against her, is alleged to have participated in a conspiracy leading to the assassination of Chilean Senator Jaime Guzman Errazuriz on April 1, 1991.