20 years on, man's family seeks PM Modi's help to extradite murder accused from UAE
Nearly two decades after the murder of retired Merchant Navy officer Captain Manmohan Singh Virdi, his family has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to
Nearly two decades after the murder of retired Merchant Navy officer Captain Manmohan Singh Virdi, his family has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the extradition of the prime accused, Hussain Mohammad Shattaf, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), saying justice has remained elusive due to the prolonged delay. In a representation submitted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the victim's brother and the original complainant, retired Captain Manjeet Singh Virdi, urged the Centre to ensure Shattaf's early extradition so that the long-pending murder trial can proceed. Read Full Story "The accused has remained outside India for years, preventing the trial from moving forward. We have waited nearly 20 years for justice," the family said. MURDER TRIAL REMAINS STALLED The case relates to an FIR registered at Lonavala City Police Station in Pune in 2006.
It is currently pending before the Sessions Court at Vadgaon Maval as Sessions Case No. 5 of 2024. According to the family, despite the restoration of the murder case, the trial has made no progress because the accused has not appeared before the court. They alleged that Shattaf has continued to evade the legal process despite facing serious criminal charges, leaving the victim's family waiting for justice for nearly two decades. SUPREME COURT REVIVED THE CASE The family said they had challenged a Bombay High Court order discharging the accused before the Supreme Court. On May 18, 2023, the apex court set aside the High Court's order and restored the murder trial, paving the way for fresh proceedings against the accused. However, the proceedings have remained stalled in the absence of Shattaf, who is believed to be residing in the UAE.
The family also referred to a Bombay High Court order dated November 20, 2025, which recorded that the Maharashtra Home Department had forwarded an extradition proposal to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on October 31, 2025. Despite this, the accused has not yet been extradited to India. EXTRADITION PROCESS UNDERWAY The family urged Prime Minister Modi to direct the concerned authorities to expedite the extradition process so that the accused can be brought before the trial court. They also questioned why several other fugitives have been extradited from the UAE in recent years while no breakthrough has been achieved in this case. Captain Manjeet Singh Virdi, now a super senior citizen, said he continues to pursue the legal battle in the hope that his brother's killers will finally face trial.
The BriefWire