Indian Fugitive Extradited to US After 20 Years: First Extradition Case in 17 Years

After a 17-year pause, India has resumed extraditions to the United States, transferring an Indian national wanted on criminal charges in America, according to officials.

Ganesh Shenoy, a 54-year-old Indian citizen who escaped to India following a fatal crash that claimed the life of a 44-year-old man two decades ago, was apprehended by the US Marshals Service in Mumbai and transported to the United States on Thursday, as reported by the Nassau County prosecutor's office on Monday.

Nassau County prosecutor Anne Donnelly stated, "After decades of evading law enforcement and dodging prosecution, my office finally returned this defendant to the United States to answer for the tragic death of a husband and father of two more than 20 years ago."

Shenoy appeared before a judge on Friday who denied bail, ordering him to remain in custody.

The fatal accident occurred in April 2005 during early morning hours in Hicksville, a New York City suburb, while victim Philip Mastropolo was commuting to work.

According to Donnelly, Shenoy was allegedly driving at twice the posted speed limit when he ran a red light and collided with Mastropolo's vehicle with such tremendous force that it was propelled approximately 20 meters before crashing into a truck.

Mastropolo died instantly at the scene.

Although Shenoy was transported to a hospital, he refused medical treatment.

Despite authorities confiscating his Indian passport, Shenoy managed to flee to India, boarding a flight from New York to Mumbai just two weeks after the accident, according to the prosecutor's office.

In August 2005, Shenoy was charged with second-degree manslaughter in Nassau County, resulting in an Interpol Red Notice being issued for his arrest.

Under New York law, the second-degree manslaughter charge Shenoy faces is equivalent to the offense in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita of committing a rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide.

The United States and India established an extradition treaty in 1997.

This agreement allows for the extradition of individuals who commit criminal offenses recognized under the laws of both nations and carrying a prison sentence exceeding one year.

In New York, second-degree manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment.