UK court rules Indian-origin pharmacist can be extradited over alleged Hyderabad murder

An Indian-origin pharmacist living in Britain can be extradited to Hyderabad to face trial over allegations that he poisoned his former wife’s family with arsenic and plotted to kill her father, a London court ruled on Friday, Reuters reported.

Aji th Kumar Mupparapu, 46, is wanted in connection with the alleged attacks on his former wife, Sirisha Muttavarapu, and her family in Hyderabad in 2023, after the couple separated.

Prosecutors allege that Mupparapu arranged for chilli powder and salt contaminated with arsenic to be sent to the family’s home. Relatives consumed food prepared with the ingredients while they were in Hyderabad for a family wedding in June 2023. Muttavarapu’s mother, Uma Maheshwari, died the following month. Prosecutors said testing showed arsenic levels in the family members’ blood and urine were more than 20 times the normal level.

The allegations against Mupparapu also extend to an alleged plot targeting Muttavarapu’s father, Hanumantha Rao. Prosecutors say he organised attempts to kill Rao through a staged road accident, by trying to hire contract killers and through a plan to have him injected with a lethal dose of a muscle relaxant.

Mupparapu’s lawyers challenged the extradition, arguing there was not enough evidence linking him to the arsenic found at the family’s home or establishing his involvement in the alleged attempts to kill Rao. They also argued that he could face torture if returned to India.

Judge John Zani rejected the challenge, finding that the evidence presented established at least an arguable case against Mupparapu. The judge also accepted assurances from Indian authorities regarding his treatment in custody.

Mupparapu can challenge the extradition decision at the High Court. His lawyer did not immediately comment on Friday’s ruling. Mupparapu has not been convicted of the allegations against him. The case will now proceed towards extradition unless an appeal changes the decision.