India’s CBI probing crimes committed in Bahrain

Agencies | New DelhiManama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed four separate cases to investigate heinous crimes, including three murders committed by Indians in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The bilateral agreements India has with Bahrain, and other GCC countries, allow India to prosecute a person locally if the act committed by a person is considered an offence under the laws of both contracting states.

CBI investigation follows requests for action from Bahrain and other countries against people who flee the countries after committing crimes there.

Bahrain has requested actions against a person charged with medical negligence and another sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia on murder charges.

According to an FIR registered by CBI on Thursday, a resident of the South Indian state Kerala, Prem Ravivarma Puthia, is wanted in a case for causing the death of a Bahrain citizen – Abdullah Mahmoud Al-Ahmadi, on March 21, 2016.

Jailed in-absentia

CBI has also filed a murder case against Subhash Chanar Mahla of Sikar, Rajasthan, for killing a Bahrain national – Mohammad Sultan Al-Motawa, on January 31, 2011.

Mahla was sentenced to life imprisonment by the high court of appeal in Bahrain in absentia, after which the Kingdom sought action from India.

“To locally prosecute these persons, we will trace them and file charge sheets against them, after which they will face trial and punishment in an Indian prison,” a CBI officer said.

Cases in Saudi, UAE

Similarly, CBI is also probing the murder charges against Mohammad Dilshad, a resident of Bijnaur (Uttar Pradesh), who was allegedly murdered in the Alsali district in Saudi Arabia in November 12, 1999.

According to the CBI's first information report, Aziziah police station in Saudi Arabia received information from a security patrol that Abdullah Muhammad Saleh, a Saudi national, reported an unpleasant odour from the water tank of the warehouse of his establishment in the Alsali district.

The body of an unidentified Asian male in his 30s was found in the tank.

Investigators found that Dilshad, who had escaped from the country, was involved. An in-absentia arrest warrant was issued against him by Saudi authorities.

Based on a request, the CBI has invoked section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code in its case.

The agency is also providing a murder case on the request of the UAE against one Sattar Khan, who holds a UAE passport, for killing a woman on November 14, 2013, and fleeing to India.

UAE had sent an extradition request against Sattar Khan in 2018-2019 and 14 other extradition requests.

India later decided to prosecute them locally.

In January 2022, the CBI registered three cases against Indians who committed crimes, including fraud in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.