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Agarwal 'killer' remanded to police custody

Nitish S Rele

An arrest has finally been made in the now-famous Deepa Agarwal murder case.

The suspect, Kamlesh Agarwal, was nabbed July 14 by the crime branch from Hotel Krishna Palace in south Bombay and has been remanded to police custody till Friday. The 22-year-old, a cousin of the slain girl, used to study computer science at the University of Central Florida. He has been remanded to police custody till July 21.

There was a warrant out for his arrest in the killing of the Orlando, Florida resident. He was believed to have fled to India after the murder.

The crime branch, which was alerted by Interpol, swept down on the hotel where Kamlesh was staying under a fictitious name and arrested him.

Kamlesh was produced before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate K H Holambe Patil and was remanded to police custody. This was to enable the Bombay police to seize all property and documents in connection with the offence as per Article 12 of the extradition treaty signed between the governments of India and the US. The US Department of Justice, Criminal division, had asked the Indian government to extradite Kamlesh and seize his property.

The magistrate said the police could not interrogate the accused as the extradition treaty did not empower the local authorities with such powers. The treaty only provides for provisional arrest and provisional surrender. He rejected Kamlesh's bail application, saying there was no provision for it in the extradition treaty.

Deepa's sister, Sheela Agarwal, had held a vigil on July 11 in Washington, DC. It was the day of the first death anniversary of Deepa, who was posthumously awarded a PhD in history by the University of Central Florida.

"The press conference held by Congressman Dan Miller of Florida was the turning point," Sheela told rediff.com immediately after hearing the news of Kamlesh's arrest in Bombay. "It showed the Indian government that the United States was serious about making sure that justice was served."

Sheela thanked the three Congressmen, Rep Dan Miller and Rep John Mica, both of Florida, and Rep David Price of North Carolina, for supporting her cause.

"The vigil and the press conference were a tremendous boost and worked toward making sure that the arrest was made," she said.

In 1987, India and the US signed an extradition treaty, which requires prompt extradition of fugitive offenders to the requesting nation.

"The US has made a provisional request for a formal extradition," said Sheela. "I have been in constant touch with the US department of justice and the state attorney's office in Florida. The three Congressmen have assured me that they won't rest till the case is resolved."

Sheela wants Kamlesh to be extradited and tried in the state of Florida on murder charges.

According to the Orlando police, Deepa had come home late on July 10 after a night out with her friends. When she arrived home, they say, she had a heated argument with Kamlesh, who was in the apartment at the time.

A couple of hours later, police say, neighbors saw Kamlesh leaving the apartment. Deepa's body was discovered a few days later.

In the US, Sheela has single-handedly tried to keep the Agarwal case alive. Her parents, Mangi and Parwati along with her brother Deepak, live in New Delhi.

However, Sheela said that her father, Mangi, is now in Bombay helping the police there with the case. She is undoubtedly extremely happy with Kamlesh's arrest.

"This may very well be the first extradition of an Indian to the US since the extradition treaty was signed in 1987," she said.

Kamlesh is to be handed over to Interpol officials who will later him over to the US police, the Bombay police said.

With inputs from Agencies

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Sister of slain girl holds vigil

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