British Indian couple face extradition to US over alleged smuggling of medical drugs |world news
LONDON: A wealthy British Indian couple appeared in a London court on Tuesday accused of smuggling unapproved medical drugs from India to the US.
Kiranjit Ghuman (45) and Sukhijit Singh Ghuman (46), who live in a magnificent country house on a 23-acre estate in Nottinghamshire, were arrested on an extradition warrant issued at the request of the US last year.
The couple appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Tuesday and confirmed their names and dates of birth. Their extradition hearing was set for a three-day hearing from Sept 16.
The US is seeking to extradite them to face charges of smuggling medical drugs into the country, introducing unapproved medical drugs into different US states, receiving and delivering misbranded medical drugs in the US, health care fraud, wire fraud and unlawful distribution of medical drugs in the US.
The allegations are that they arranged for medical drugs to be smuggled from India to the US to be given to cancer and rheumatology patients at several medical clinics owned by Sukhijit, group chairman and CEO of Octavian, in California and Arizona. Sukhijit, a British Sikh, returned to UK from the US in 2023. The couple are contesting the extradition and deny the allegations.
In court, Peter Caldwell, representing the US, told district judge Briony Clarke: “This is a rather involved fraud concerning the supply of medical products and medicines across US borders so there is some evidence to be served relating to prison conditions in California and medical evidence.”
Clarke set the next hearing for July 30.
The couple’s bail conditions are to remain at home between midnight and 6 am. Their passports, US green cards and Kiranjit’s Indian ID card have been retained by police. Sukhijit has been ordered to surrender any Dubai identity card. They have to report to the police station every Wednesday and must live and sleep at their home and are not allowed to apply for any travel documents or travel overseas. Each of them has lodged a £150,000 security.
Kiranjit Ghuman (45) and Sukhijit Singh Ghuman (46), who live in a magnificent country house on a 23-acre estate in Nottinghamshire, were arrested on an extradition warrant issued at the request of the US last year.
The couple appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Tuesday and confirmed their names and dates of birth. Their extradition hearing was set for a three-day hearing from Sept 16.
The US is seeking to extradite them to face charges of smuggling medical drugs into the country, introducing unapproved medical drugs into different US states, receiving and delivering misbranded medical drugs in the US, health care fraud, wire fraud and unlawful distribution of medical drugs in the US.
The allegations are that they arranged for medical drugs to be smuggled from India to the US to be given to cancer and rheumatology patients at several medical clinics owned by Sukhijit, group chairman and CEO of Octavian, in California and Arizona. Sukhijit, a British Sikh, returned to UK from the US in 2023. The couple are contesting the extradition and deny the allegations.
In court, Peter Caldwell, representing the US, told district judge Briony Clarke: “This is a rather involved fraud concerning the supply of medical products and medicines across US borders so there is some evidence to be served relating to prison conditions in California and medical evidence.”
Clarke set the next hearing for July 30.
The couple’s bail conditions are to remain at home between midnight and 6 am. Their passports, US green cards and Kiranjit’s Indian ID card have been retained by police. Sukhijit has been ordered to surrender any Dubai identity card. They have to report to the police station every Wednesday and must live and sleep at their home and are not allowed to apply for any travel documents or travel overseas. Each of them has lodged a £150,000 security.