Paramjeet Singh, who went with his family for a holiday to Portugal, was arrested and detained by Portugal's Foreigners and Borders Service officers on 18 December, 2015 due to an Interpol Red Notice having been issued.
Singh is threatened with extradition to India, but the authorities there face two major hurdles – overcoming significant political doubts and legally proving the case for extradition.
It became clear early on that this primarily was a political rather than a legal matter. Following six weeks of campaigning, the worldwide Sikh community is convinced the Portuguese government now must block the extradition of Paramjeet Singh.
India has taken maximum advantage of the legal situation in Portugal by taking nearly 40 days to present its evidence for extradition despite having an Interpol Red Notice which should have listed the charges.
This delay is inexcusable as Paramjeet Singh has been imprisoned despite the Interpol Red Notice being invalid.
Rest assured the Indian government has been working hard to convince Portuguese politicians including the Attorney General, Minister for Justice and the Prime Minister of its case for extradition, and also has been leaning on the Foreign Office in the UK to turn a blind eye and let the extradition from Portugal take place.
However, politicians in both countries can not ignore the facts that have emerged, nor public opinion in both countries.
Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said, “We are confident the Portuguese government will do the right thing and block the extradition. They were tricked in the Abu Salem case when India changed the charges after the extradition. The UK Government has also made clear to the Portuguese Government that Paramjeet Singh was declared a refugee in 2000 and they have provided the reasons why he can not be returned to India. The question of extradition is an open and shut case.
“Since his detention we have been in contact with Fair Trials International and it has been confirmed that Interpol changed its policy in May 2015 and any Red Notices for those who have been given refugee status are not valid.
"In Paramjeet Singh’s case the evidence presented to the British authorities on refugee status was so convincing that he was granted asylum in record speed. This alone provides the basis for the Portuguese Government to stop the extradition proceedings and return Paramjeet Singh to the UK to be reunited with his family.”
What remains unclear is exactly what was presented by the Indian authorities to the Portuguese Attorney General on Monday January 25th. If Indian media reports are to be believed, only his suspected involvement in the 2009 (10 years after he left India) killing of Rulda Singh is mentioned. Rulda Singh was head of a Hindu nationalist paramilitary group involved in extreme violence, including acts of terrorism.
In 2010 this particular case was thoroughly investigated by the British police working jointly with Indian police. UK police officers even travelled to India, but at the end of the investigation Paramjeet Singh was not charged.
This also will be relevant to any decision made by the Portuguese Government.
Bhai Amrik Singh added, “The question many UK politicians have asked is if India has any more evidence, why has it opted for a back door approach to extradition? The fact the Indian authorities have not comeback to Britain speaks volumes and is unacceptable.
"The Portuguese Government is duty bound to recognise Paramjeet Singh has been granted asylum in the UK. The matter India is raising with them has already been thoroughly investigated jointly by Britain and India.”
Yesterday the Evora Court of Appeal extended the detention of Paramjeet Singh until 15 February, 2016 awaiting decision from the Minister of Justice, Francisca van Dunem, who will decide in the next 20 days if the case is admissible.
If the case is admissible it will move to a judicial phase.
Gurjeet Singh, National Press Secretary, Sikh Federation (UK)
