SC asks Centre to explain detention of French woman

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Union government to explain how a French woman was detained on a Note Verbale from Chile for her alleged role in 1991 murder of a Senator there.

A bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and Arun Mishra told Additional Solicitor General P S Patwalia to file an affidavit by October 16, explaining if Interpol's Red Corner Notice was still in effect in her case.

Marie Emmanuelle Verhoeven, 56, was arrested on the basis of a Red Corner Notice in Uttar Pradesh on February 17 while entering India from Nepal. She was kept in Tihar jail here.

Senior advocate T R Andhyarujina, appearing for the woman, questioned her detention for about nine months. He submitted that her arrest was struck down by the Delhi High Court on September 21. The counsel claimed the Red Corner Notice was also cancelled on May 30.
Patwalia, however, claimed, “The woman was doing forum hunting....She could still have approached the HC and there was no need to file habeas corpus petition here.”

Arrest warrant
The ASG submitted that a fresh arrest warrant was issued on September 22 on a fresh Note Verbale from Chilean authorities. He referred to Section 3 and 34 (B) of Extradition Act, 1962 enjoining the central government to arrest a fugitive criminal after securing warrant from a competent magistrate.