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Cabinet okays extradition treaty with UAE

The Union Cabinet has approved the signing and ratification of an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates, Minister of State for External Affairs Vasundhara Raje Scindia told the Lok Sabha today.

Scindia told Mohan Rawale (Shiv Sena) and others during question time that the approval had been accorded by the Cabinet at its meeting in New Delhi yesterday.

She also informed the House that the treaty had already been initialled by the two sides last year.

Replying to a query by E Ahmed (Muslim League), the minister said the understanding was that fugitive gangsters Dawood Ibrahim and 'Tiger' Memon, wanted in connection with the Bombay blasts case, did not actually reside in Dubai though they may visit Dubai.

The minister explained that the government was trying its best to bring back criminals and fugitives from the UAE, but had not succeeded so far because of legal hurdles.

She expressed the hope that following the signing and ratification of the extradition treaty, these legal hurdles would be removed.

The minister said the extradition treaty with the UAE was expected to be formally signed upon completion of necessary formalities by both countries.

More than 30 alleged Indian criminals live in the UAE, and, it was said, the government is using all possible legal and diplomatic means at its disposal to bring them back to India.

UNI

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