Senthil Kumar: Finally Free

The London-based chief of the Dutch subsidiary of In-dian banking software

major i-Flex, Senthil Kumar, has been discharged by a court after the

Netherlands government failed to convince Britain to launch extradition

proceedings against him. His acquittal was announced by Bow Street Magistrate’s

Court Judge Workman after the solicitor representing the Netherlands government

informed the court that British Home Secretary David Blunkett had not given his

authorization to go ahead with the extradition case.

Confirming the report, i-Flex Solutions CFO and CEO (India operations) Deepak

Ghaisas said–"The extradition case has been thrown out in the UK

court." Welcoming the decision, a company press statement said the

discharge came after a formal "authority to proceed" was not issued.

This authority is an essential pre-condition to the initiation of extradition

proceedings.

i-Flex chairman and MD Rajesh Hukku said–"i-Flex and Senthil Kumar

stand vindicated today." He thanked the government, the ministries of

external affairs and IT, Nasscom and the media for their "unstinting

support".

Nasscom President Kiran Karnik expressed happiness as well. "We

acknowledge the tremendous support that the government, particularly the

ministry of external affairs, provided. This reinforces the industry-government

partnership in a major way."

Kumar was detained in London on March 26, 2003 and sent to Brixton prison for

a week at the behest of the Netherlands government, which wanted him extradited

for investigation into charges of visa irregularities. In fact, Interpol had

also issued an alert against Kumar over a complaint filed against his company in

Amsterdam–that 14 of his employees were working in the Netherlands without

proper work permits. While Kumar was detained for interrogation in London, 14

Indian employees in Netherlands were given a week to leave the country.

Pragati Simlote



CNS