‘Last Wish to See Justice’: Merchant Navy Family Urges UAE to Expedite Hussain Shattaf Extradition

The family approached the UAE Embassy in New Delhi after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the UAE had sought additional documents in connection with India’s extradition request.

Retired Captain Manjit Singh Virdi, the victim’s brother and original complainant, has urged the UAE mission to coordinate with Indian authorities and facilitate Shattaf’s return so that the criminal proceedings can move forward in India.

Trial awaits accused’s return

The murder case dates back to 2006, when FIR No. 46 of 2006 was registered at Lonavala City Police Station following the killing of Captain Manmohan Singh Virdi.

The matter is currently pending before the Sessions Court at Wadgaon Maval in Pune as Sessions Case No. 5 of 2024.

The victim’s family maintains that the proceedings have been held up by Shattaf’s absence from India. In its representation to the UAE mission, the family said his continued absence had caused prolonged hardship and prevented the case from reaching its conclusion.

The family has also raised concerns regarding Shattaf’s passport and immigration status, claiming that his passport expired in 2021 and that he has remained in the UAE since then.

It has further referred to an Interpol notice, a Look Out Circular and other criminal cases allegedly involving Shattaf.

The allegations have been made by the victim’s family and have not been independently verified from the material available.

Supreme Court revived proceedings
The case saw a major legal development in 2023 when the Supreme Court restored the murder proceedings against the accused.
In an order dated May 18, 2023, in Criminal Appeal No. 1399 of 2023, the Supreme Court set aside the Bombay High Court order discharging the accused and restored the proceedings.

The family has since continued its efforts to secure Shattaf’s return to India, where he can face the judicial process before the competent court.

The family’s representation also cites a November 20, 2025 Bombay High Court order recording that Maharashtra’s Home Department had forwarded an extradition proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs on October 31, 2025.

UAE asks India for more documents
The extradition effort gained fresh attention this month after the MEA disclosed that the UAE had sought additional documentation.
On August 4, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s extradition request had been sent to the UAE and that Indian authorities were working on the documents sought by the Emirati side.

“That specific extradition request was sent to the UAE side. They’ve asked for some more documentation in that regard, and we are working on this particular matter,” Jaiswal said.

Following the statement, the Virdi family approached the UAE mission, seeking its intervention to help complete the extradition process at the earliest.

The family has asked UAE authorities to take appropriate action under applicable law to facilitate Shattaf’s extradition and return to India.

Family raises other cases
According to the representation, Shattaf is also known as Hussain Mehboob Khokawala. The family alleges that he is wanted in connection with the murder case as well as separate matters involving forgery, criminal breach of trust and allegedly obtaining a passport using false details.
The representation also refers to a Look Out Circular and alleged Interpol action.

These claims remain allegations by the complainant’s family and do not constitute findings of guilt.

‘My last wish is to see justice’
For Manjit Singh Virdi, who describes himself as a senior citizen, the prolonged proceedings have become a deeply personal struggle.
“I am a senior citizen suffering from various age- and health-related issues. It is my last wish to see justice done in the matter of the murder of my deceased brother,” he said in his representation.

He has appealed to the UAE mission to work with the Indian government and facilitate Shattaf’s extradition in accordance with law.

Nearly 20 years after the murder, the family says it is still waiting for the trial to move forward.

With the Supreme Court having restored the proceedings and India’s extradition request now being processed by the UAE, the family hopes the latest exchange of documents will lead to concrete action.

For the Virdi family, the demand is not for any outcome outside the judicial process—but for the accused to be brought before the court so that the case can finally be decided on its merits.