Kiranjit Ghuman and Sukhijit Singh Ghuman, a couple of British-Indian descent, found themselves entangled in legal proceedings at a London court this Tuesday, facing allegations of orchestrating the smuggling of unapproved medical drugs from India into the United States. Their legal battle against extradition proceedings initiated by the US government is now underway.
Last year, the Ghumans, who reside on a sizable estate in Nottinghamshire, England, were apprehended under a US extradition request. Presenting themselves at Westminster magistrates' court, the couple verified their identities and dates of birth.
Their extradition hearing, slated to span three days, is set to commence on September 16. Meanwhile, the terms of their bail dictate that they must observe a curfew from midnight until 6 am, with authorities confiscating their passports, US green cards, and Kiranjit's Indian ID card. Sukhijit is also required to surrender any Dubai identity card in his possession. Additionally, they must make weekly visits to the police station, remain at their residence overnight, and abstain from applying for travel documents or exiting the country. Each has furnished £150,000 as security.
The US government's extradition request stems from accusations alleging the Ghumans' involvement in smuggling medical drugs into the US, distributing unapproved drugs across multiple states, and participating in health care fraud, wire fraud, and the illicit distribution of medical drugs.
According to the allegations, the couple purportedly coordinated the smuggling of medical drugs from India into the US, catering to cancer and rheumatology patients receiving treatment at medical clinics owned by Sukhijit, who serves as the chairman and CEO of Octavian, with operations in California and Arizona. Sukhijit, a British citizen of the Sikh faith, returned to the UK from the US in 2023.
Both Kiranjit and Sukhijit have vehemently denied the charges, contesting the extradition proceedings. During the court session, Peter Caldwell, representing the US, underscored the intricacies of the fraud scheme involving medical products and medications traversing US borders.
The next hearing, as directed by district judge Briony Clarke, is slated for July 30.
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