Oz hit-and-run case: Accused appeals Indian govt for help

Accused in a 2008 hit-and-run case in Australia, Puneet Puneet today appealed to the Indian government to help him as a local court in issued transit remand for him to appear before a Delhi court tomorrow.
Puneet, now 24, had fled Australia in 2009, after he was wanted in a hit-and-run case in Southbank, Victoria, Australia, that killed a 19-year-old youth Dean Hofstee and seriously injured his friend Clancy Cloker.
Puneet was arrested by Rajpura police on November 29 after Victoria (Australia) Police last year offered a reward of USD 1,00,000 for him.
A court in Rajpura today issued transit remand for him to appear before Patiala house court in Delhi tomorrow where his extradition hearing will be held.

Coming out of the court, Puneet appealed for help from the Indian government, saying he feared he wouldn't live to return home.
"I feel so sorry. It was an accident," he said. "I didn't see him... Accidents happen everywhere, but they are treating this differently," adding that he had no resources to fight.
"I am pleading again and again to the Indian government to help me," he said.