The hit driver Puneet Puneet has been released on bail in India in a setback due to protracted efforts to extradite him to Australia.
Puneet fled to India while awaiting sentencing for the 2008 death of college student Dean Hofstee in a drunk driving accident.
The 33-year-old was released on bail on July 7 to allow him to care for his ailing parents despite prosecutors arguing they keep him behind bars.
Puneet’s lawyers said her mother had “lung disease and no one cared for her,” according to court documents.
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Prosecutors opposed the bail and said Puneet was “at risk of absconding and was only arrested after three years of investigation.”
A spokesman for Federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said “ensuring the extradition of Puneet remains a very high priority for the Australian government”.
“The Indian authorities are responsible for dealing with Australia’s extradition request through the courts of India and the Australian Government is grateful to the Indian authorities for their constant assistance in advancing this request.” , said the spokesman.
Puneet fled the scene of the 2008 crash, but was later caught and pleaded guilty to guilty driving.