Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Murder of US model: Indian police officers in Prague to bring back accused hailing from Gujarat

INDIAN police officers are in Prague to extradite a man accused of being involved in the murder of an American model in the south Asian country 17 years ago.

Murder of US model: Indian police officers in Prague to bring back accused hailing from Gujarat

Leona Swiderski, 33, who arrived in Mumbai in February 2003 was due to marry her fiancee Pragnesh Desai but she was found dead off a highway near the city the next day.

Police believe Desai plotted her murder to claim her insurance money of $1 million (£800,000) and hired three contract killers, including his childhood friend Vipul Patel, to eliminate her.

Investigation revealed that Desai paid Patel some $66,666 (£53,009) to kill Swiderski.

However, a court in Thane, a city adjacent to Mumbai, acquitted both Desai and Patel.

The case has been reopened following a request from the US.

Swiderski disappeared soon after landing at the Mumbai airport, police inspector Sanjay Hazare told the Hindustan Times.

“Desai claimed that he filed a missing person report. The following day, 9 February 2003, we found Leona’s body by the side of the road at Kashimira off the Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway.”

While Desai currently lives in Vadodara in the western state of Gujarat, Patel managed to reach the Czech Republic. Two other accused have been absconding.

India secured the Interpol help for Patel's extradition and a four-member police team is expected to bring him back on Friday (27).

Both Patel and Desai would be produced before the court, the officer involved in the investigation told the newspaper.

More For You

Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus to step down after April polls

Chief adviser to the government of Bangladesh Professor Muhammed Yunus speaks during a live interview at Chatham House on June 11, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus to step down after April polls

BANGLADESH interim leader Muhammad Yunus said on Wednesday (11) that there was "no way" he wanted to continue in power after elections he has announced for April, the first since a mass uprising overthrew the government.

The South Asian nation of around 180 million people has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt ousted then prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, ending her 15-year rule.

Keep ReadingShow less
Leicester residents invited to shape future of local councils

The proposed reorganisation could save £43m a year, say council leaders, but critics question the figure

Leicester residents invited to shape future of local councils

Hannah Richardson

RESIDENTS can now have their say on a plan which would see the number of local councils in Leicestershire drop from eight to two.

The proposal is one of three put forward for the political re-organisation of Leicestershire after the government told local leaders it wanted areas with two tiers of councils – such as the county – to reduce it to a single-tier set up.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi & Trump

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.

Reuters

India, US talks edge towards interim trade deal: Report

INDIAN and US negotiators reported progress after four days of closed-door meetings in New Delhi on Tuesday, focusing on market access for industrial and some agricultural goods, tariff cuts and non-tariff barriers, according to Indian government sources.

"The negotiations held with the US side were productive and helped in making progress towards crafting a mutually beneficial and balanced agreement including through achievement of early wins," one of the sources said to Reuters.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jaishankar-Getty

Jaishankar, who is currently in Europe a month after India launched Operation Sindoor, said Pakistan was training 'thousands' of terrorists 'in the open' and 'unleashing' them on India. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

India will strike deep into Pakistan if provoked, says Jaishankar

INDIA's external affairs minister S Jaishankar has said India would strike deep into Pakistan if provoked by terrorist attacks, and warned of retribution against terrorist organisations and their leaders in response to incidents like the Pahalgam attack.

Speaking to Politico on Monday, Jaishankar, who is currently in Europe a month after India launched Operation Sindoor, said Pakistan was training “thousands” of terrorists “in the open” and “unleashing” them on India.

Keep ReadingShow less