The Interpol division of Central Bureau of Investigations will now question Maninderpal Singh Kohli, prime suspect in the rape and murder of 17-year-old British national Hannah Foster.
Kalimpong's Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate gave custody of Kohli to CBI after the agency had moved an application before the court.
CBI spokesman G Mohanty told rediff.com that the agency would be lending a helping hand to the British Police and Punjab Police, which would eventually be dealing with the case.
He denied that CBI seeking a longer custody of Kohli "We would merely interrogate the suspect. Punjab police would to the actual investigation work," Mohanty said.
"Since all extraditions are done through the interpol division of the CBI so all the paper work would be done by the agency. The extradition work would be done by the Ministry of External Affairs," said a former CBI official.
West Bengal police has seized three passports from Maninder Pal Singh Kohli during the search operations carried out at his residence in Kalimpong, where he was living with newly wedded wife Bharti. "We would find out how he got those passports and where they were issued, " a senior West Bengal police official told rediff.com over phone.
A team of Punjab Police headed by Pritpal Singh Virk, Patiala Superintendent of Police, also moved an application before the SDJM seeking the custody of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli.
Delhi Police's Deputy Commissioner (Crime Branch) Tajinder Luthra said his team would like to interrogate Maninder Pal Singh Kohli as his description matches that of the suspect who had raped a Swiss embassy official.