Indian national Puneet Puneet fighting his extradition to Australia in a court in New Delhi has been trashed by members of Indian community living in Australia and the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews after reportedly claiming in an Indian court that Australia is a racist country.
Voices in the Indian community have spoken out against this claim to SBS Hindi.
Christine Anne Singh wrote ‘Far from racist ... You have to be responsible for your actions’ while Deepa Sehgal said, ‘(he) had the guts to kill and run away on someone else's passport and he is claiming Australia to be racist country just because they want him to punish him for his act.”
Another member of the community, Rajiv Malhotra commented, “I think the people from Australia should approach PMO for his extradition.” And Chandra Kishore said, “He should accept his doings rather than blaming Australia as being racist.”
Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews too has lashed out at Puneet Puneet who fled Australia while on bail on a friend’s passport in 2009.
Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews Source: AAP
Premier Andrews told , “I will let people judge for themselves the character of the individual who runs instead of facing up to the consequences of what he may or may not have done. Hiding on the other side of the world — that’s a pretty cowardly act.”
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle told this morning that Puneet Puneet was a coward for fleeing to India and should face the full extent of the law.
“Talk about playing the last possible card, that’s about it. He is a coward, he is an appalling piece of work. And I hope to see him back and I hope the full extent of the law is used against him,” Cr Doyle said.
Puneet who is fighting his extradition to Australia in a New Delhi court, presented a witness on Monday who claimed to have been racially abused and mistreated while working in Australia, reported.
“Australians are biased towards Indians so I request Indian authorities to take care of its nationals,” chef Jayant Dagore told the court.
“Puneet should be free,” he told the court. “India should help Puneet, not Australia.”
Another person to support this claim was Melbourne-born designer Anna Maria D’Annibale.
The matter has been put over till September 5.
Puneet was a 19-year-old learner driver when he hit and killed Mr Hofstee, 19, and seriously injured Clancy Coker, 20, in Southbank in Melbourne on October 1, 2008.
Police estimated Puneet was driving at 148km/h — more than double the legal limit in the area. He also tested positive for alcohol.
