CBI may finally get Purulia accused

New Delhi: The CBI is likely to finally succeed in extraditing Kim Davy, the main accused in the 1995 Purulia arms drop case, from Denmark.

The Centre is expected to give an assurance that he will serve any prison term in that country following his possible conviction in India.

Relenting to pressure from Danish authorities, New Delhi may give an executive assurance to Copenhagen that Davy will not be sentenced to death for any offence committed by him in India and that he will be repatriated to Denmark to serve any prison sentence after his trial, official sources said.

During the intervening night of December 17-18, 1995, an An-26 aircraft flew over Purulia in West Bengal and dropped a huge cache of assault rifles and ammunition near the Anandmarg headquarters at Anandnagar.

While the aircraft's Latvian crew and British national Peter Bleach were arrested at Mumbai airport four days later, Davy managed to escape and was later traced to Denmark.

The CBI located Davy, a Danish citizen, and sent an extradition request. In response to this, Danish authorities submitted seven conditions to New Delhi, including one that Davy would serve any prison term in Denmark, the sources said.

After an initial negative reaction, the CBI and the Centre are understood to have agreed to the conditions and a formal communication will be sent through the External Affairs

Ministry after a final round of meetings between the agency and senior Home Ministry officials.

According to its rules, Denmark does not extradite any of its citizens to any country unless the accused has committed a crime against a Danish citizen.