The Supreme Court today directed the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government to take all necessary steps for the extradition of an absconding businesswoman, who is currently residing in London.
The top court once again refused to grant relief to the mother in-law of Ritika Awasty, a promoter of the Bush Foods Overseas Pvt Ltd, whose residential property has been attached.
A bench of justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit asked the counsels for the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government to take all possible steps to bring back the woman from London.
"You all take whatever steps necessary for the extradition of the woman. Bring her back," the bench said.
Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, appearing for Awasty's mother-in-law, said her client was 75-year-old and had no other place to go.
"We have not dispossessed you from your properties. Ask her (Awasty) to come back and we will release your property. You cannot claim that she does not have share in the proprty," the bench said.
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On March 12, the bench had refused to release the attached properties of the mother-in-law, saying she should first bring her daughter-in-law back to India.
The Centre had earlier told the court that the government had made an extradition request to the UK with regard to Awasty.
On January 29, the apex court had said Awasty would have to face the "wrath of law" and that it would take "all possible steps" to get her back.
Awasty is facing trial in Uttar Pradesh on charges of cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust and has been evading arrest after she was allowed by the top court to go to London.
The court had said it would leave no stone unturned to bring back the businesswoman, stressing that she could not be allowed to get away after breaching the court's order.
The court had said, "You will have to get her back. Speak to her and ask her to come back. We can modify our order but only after she comes back. Ask her to behave like a good daughter-in-law."