Ratnesh Bhutani v. Union of India

O R D E R %

18.08.2026 CRL.M.A. 25322/2026 (for early hearing)

¶1The applicant – petitioner seeks early hearing of the captioned petition.

¶2For the reasons stated therein, and with the consent of Ms. Rekha Pandey, learned Special Public Prosecutor for the respondent – Union of India, the application is allowed. The petition is taken on Board.

¶3The application stands disposed of. CRL.M.C. 4589/2026

¶1The subject proceedings have been instituted under Section 5 of the Extradition Act, 1962, against the petitioner, who is wanted to stand trial in the United States of America for alleged offences involving repeated This is a digitally signed order. sexual assault of a minor.

¶2By way of the present petition, the petitioner assails an order dated

26.02.2026, whereby the learned Sessions Court dismissed his revision petition against an order of the learned Magistrate's Court dated

22.02.2025, by which two applications filed by him – one seeking adjudication of objections raised during the examination-in-chief of CW-1, and the other seeking production of further documents relating to the extradition request, were dismissed, with costs of Rs. 50,000/-.

¶3After some hearing, Mr. Arpit Batra, learned counsel for the petitioner, seeks permission to withdraw this petition, without prejudice to the rights and remedies available to the petitioner after the conclusion of the extradition proceedings. He further seeks permission to approach the learned Magistrate's Court for waiver/reduction of the amount of costs imposed by the impugned order dated 22.02.2025.

¶4The petition, alongwith any pending application, is dismissed as withdrawn in terms of the aforesaid submissions.

¶5The next date of hearing, i.e. 07.09.2026, stands cancelled.

¶6It is made clear that this Court has not entered into the merits of the dispute, and it is for the concerned Court to take an appropriate decision in accordance with law. PRATEEK JALAN, J AUGUST 18, 2026 SS/KA/ This is a digitally signed order.

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010278152026 + CRL.M.C. 4589/2026 RATNESH BHUTANI .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Arpit Batra, Mr. Abhilash Chahalia, Mr. Shaurya Rawat and Mr. Tarun Khanna, Advocates. versus UNION OF INDIA .....Respondent Through: Ms. Rekha Pandey, SPP. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN