Hitesh Patel, accused in Sterling Biotech case, detained in Albania following Interpol notice: Officials

Hitesh Patel, accused in Sterling Biotech case, detained in Albania following Interpol notice, officials said. A Delhi court on Tuesday allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to send extradition requests to Albania for two directors of a Gujarat-based pharma firm in an Rs.8,100-crore money laundering case.

"Patel is an accused in the case and is the brother-in-law of the main accused in the case, the Sandesara brothers(Nitin and Chetan Sandesara). He is expected to be extradited to India soon," officials said. The Enforcement Directorate had ensued an Interpol red corner notice against him on March 11.

The ED had registered the alleged bank fraud case against SBL under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The accused are also being probed by the ED for allegedly bribing senior Income Tax department officials as part of an earlier criminal complaint. The ED had earlier told the court that the accused have left the country under suspicious circumstances and evaded the process of law to face criminal prosecution.

ED Sources: Hitesh Patel is expected to be extradited to India soon. He is an accused in a Rs 5000 crore money laundering case, a prosecution complaint was filed by ED in special PMLA Court https://t.co/iHRvQ30vuU

— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2019

The ED had earlier told the court that as per reliable sources, 2 other main accused -- Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Chetankumar Jayantilal Sandesara, both directors of Sterling Biotech Ltd (SBL) -- have obtained the citizenship of Albania and non-bailable warrants (NBWs) were issued against them earlier this year. However, there is no information about them yet.