Man granted British citizenship by mistake held for murder

An Indian man who was given British citizenship by mistake has been held for the murder of his brother-in-law.

Sukhwinder Singh, 41, has paranoid schizophrenia and stabbed his brother-in-law after being convinced that he was having an affair with his wife. Singh drove the dead body of Harish Kumar to West Bromwich police station in the West Midlands before handing himself in, reported The Times.

Singh, who fled to Britain in 2007, had served seven years for murder in India. A clerical error resulted in Singh being granted British citizenship.

“I have to sentence you for the offence of manslaughter, your plea has been accepted that your responsibility was substantially diminished by your condition at the time," judge Michael Challinor was quoted as saying by the publication.

“You pose a risk to the public . . . Following an admin error you were given British citizenship in 2011. Put plainly, you are here illegally in this country.”

Singh has been jailed for five years and will be deported upon his release.

Singh and four others were convicted in 1998 for killing a student union president in Punjab, India. The victim was stabbed 18 times with  a Sikh ceremonial dagger, known as a kirpan.