Fugitive US citizen accused of raping minor seeks bail

New York-based Amit Mohan Singh, who had been on the run after issuance of a red corner notice against him at the request of FBI, has filed his bail application before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Bansal who has now fixed August five for the next hearing.

"Singh on May 11, 2009 approached a 14-year-old female on the street in Elmont, New York, dragged her into a house and forcibly raped her," the letter, written to the Ministry of External Affairs by the US embassy here, said.

Earlier, N K Matta, counsel for the MEA, had told the court that Singh, 30, arrested on July 6, be sent to judicial custody till August 10 as the MEA is all set to move for his extradition to the US.

"Singh is wanted to stand trial in the Supreme Court of Nassau County in the state of New York on charge of rape, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child (victim)," the embassy document said.

If convicted, Singh may get maximum 25 years jail term for the offence of rape, the document, citing the New York Penal Law, said.

Singh, a habitual offender, has also been charged on three other counts, it said.

The fugitive is also wanted to serve the remaining jail term in the US for violating the terms of probation after being convicted for "criminal possession" of controlled substances on December 21, 2007, the US mission said.

He violated the probation terms as he did not report to the probation officer and also refused to provide his urine sample for the test of banned substances, it said.

"The embassy assures the MEA that if Singh is arrested based upon its request then the US will provide the supporting documents under the extradition treaty within the specified time," it said.