In yet another boost for India in terms of legal battles, a judge at the Westminster Magistrate’s Court, UK, said the extradition of Sanjeev Chawla can proceed. The case has been referred to Home Secretary Sajid Javid for a final decision, reports The Hindu.
The developments unfolded at a procedural hearing before District Judge Rebecca Crane on Monday (7 January). The order also complies with a 2018 ruling made by the High Court in London which overturned the verdict made by the Westminster Magistrates’ Court which discharged him on the basis of concerns over conditions at Tihar Jail.
Chawla was accused in a match-fixing scandal involving former South African Cricket Team captain Hansie Cronje during the latter’s tour to India in February-March 2000. Chawla was introduced to Cronje in January or February 2000, according to previous court documents. He allegedly told Cronje that “he could make significant amounts of money if he agreed to lose cricket matches.”