LAUNCESTON criminal Lokendra Singh – who was found guilty of trying to kill his wife Dr Renu Singh last year – is facing fresh charges in his native India.
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Singh slashed Renu’s throat three times with a serrated kitchen knife at the pair’s Newnham home in February 2014.
The attack occurred after Singh had bullied Renu into signing a life insurance policy worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Singh currently awaits sentencing in Risdon Prison for the crime, but Indian police have moved to have the 31-year-old extradited to the Ambazari region on their charges of torturing, forgery and cheating.
The accusations relate to Singh’s attack on Renu in 2014 and an Indian document which Singh allegedly signed claiming to be a doctor.
Singh’s parents Randhir and Urmila Singh, along with Singh’s brother Lokesh Singh and other family members Khemchand Nihal Singh and Manoj Kumar Randhir Singh will also face dishonesty charges.
Singh’s relation Brijesh Sogarwal is on a dishonesty charge as well.
On Tuesday, a Ambazari Police junior officer confirmed the charges and India’s intention to have Singh extradited.
``Yes, we have had discussions with higher authorities – the Foreign Department – to get advice,’’ he said.
``There is a process, then he will be handed over to India.’’
In October last year, Renu – a doctor at the Launceston General Hospital – flew back to her native India to be with her family following Singh’s guilty verdict.
Upon her return she was stripped of her passport and wrongly jailed by Indian authorities after Singh’s family made a false police complaint against her.
It is understood the Singhs are influential in the Nagpur region with ties to government.
Renu remains in a legal battle for her passport, but plans to return to Launceston in the near future to resume her role as a doctor at LGH.
Last month, Health Minister Michael Ferguson said Renu’s position at LGH was safe.
The Tasmanian Director of Public Prosecution’s office said it would not comment on the fresh charges against Singh until his Tasmanian matters had been finalised in court.
Singh’s sentencing has been delayed because he refused to undergo a psychological evaluation in prison earlier this year.
He is expected to reappear in the Launceston Magistrates Court later this year.
Last month, the Australian government said it would not intervene to help Renu get her passport back.
However, it said the High Commission in New Delhi was monitoring Renu’s legal situation.
