Court allows extradition of Indian man to Britain to face trial for rape

An Indian court ruled on Friday that a man accused of raping and killing a teenage British girl can be extradited to Britain to face trial, a news report said.

The Delhi High Court rejected a petition filed against the extradition of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, who is wanted by British police for allegedly abducting and killing 17-year-old Hannah Foster, the Press Trust of India reported.

"There is sufficient evidence to prove prima-facie case against Kohli," the report quoted the judges as saying in their ruling. "The review petition filed by Kohli has no merit and we dismiss it."

Foster was killed near her home in Portswood, Southampton, on March 14, 2003. Her body was found two days later, and an autopsy indicated she had been raped and strangled.

Kohli traveled to India shortly after British police identified him as the prime suspect and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Indian police apprehended Kohli in 2004 after Foster's parents visited India, pleading for information on his whereabouts.

Kohli has since been in jail, fighting his extradition.

Court officials couldn't be reached for comments. Kohli's attorney did not answer repeated calls.