UK court clears extradition of Ajith Mupparapu in Hyderabad murder case

London,UPDATED: Sep 5, 2026 18:48 IST

A UK court has ruled that a pharmacist based in Britain, who is wanted in India to face trial over the alleged targeting of his ex-wife's family in Hyderabad, can be extradited. Ajith Kumar Mupparapu, 46, appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court in London, where the case was presented by the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of the Indian authorities.

District Judge John Zani held that Mupparapu has a case to answer and can be sent to India, relying on assurances about how he would be treated while in judicial custody there. The Indian-origin British citizen is wanted to stand trial over separate allegations of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to murder, the court was told.

According to the case presented in court, the four incidents, all in 2023, related to the alleged targeting of the family of Sirisha Muttavarapu after she filed for divorce. The court was told: "The primary incident is a conspiracy to murder his wife and her family in India by arsenic poisoning. The second incident is a conspiracy to murder his father-in-law, by co-conspirators using succinycholine injections.

"The third incident is an attempt by the RP (requested person) to hire contract killers in India to kill his father-in-law. The fourth incident was the hiring of co-conspirators to kill his father-in-law in what was meant to look like a road accident," the UK court was told.

Sirisha Muttavarapu's mother died after the alleged arsenic poisoning in July 2023, and Telangana authorities are seeking Mupparapu as part of their investigation into her death. His lawyers opposed extradition, arguing that there was not enough evidence and raising concerns that he could face torture if sent to India.

The extradition hearing took place in April, and the judgment was issued in writing this week. In its ruling, the London court said Mupparapu could be extradited to India to face trial over the allegations linked to the 2023 incidents.

With PTI Inputs

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