Mumbai, Feb 25, 2004
Thane superintendent of police Ramrao Pawar said: “Yes,
FBI team are here in connection with the case and will be here for some
time. They have begun their investigations. They are working with the
Kashimira police station on this.’’ Ms Swiderski model, 33
years old was found with her throat slit at Vaswa on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad
highway on February 7, 2003. The body was recovered by the Kashimira
police the same night, and less than 48 hours later, Ms Swiderski’s
fiance, NRI Pragnesh Desai, was arrested. Desai’s three accomplices
were subsequently traced.
It has been more complicated since Desai was arrested
on February 10 last year, but the case fell on its face after the investigating
officer failed to substantiate the charges against him, leading to his
acquittal last August. But he was again arrested four months ago. He
is in Tihar jail now, after Interpol alerted Indian police about some
other criminal cases for which he is wanted
Police station Thane would not say what line of investigation
the FBI is following, but there are indications that its sleuths are
here to probe if there is a link between the Chicago mafia and an Indian
gang allegedly hired to kill 25-year-old Leona Swedski. It is alleged
that Pragnesh hired Vipur for Rs 30 lakh to kill Leona with whom he
had a long extra-marital affair in the US.
Mr Dudeja ordered on January 20, that Desai be extradited
to the US . The order can be challenged by Desai, currently lodged in
Tihar Jail, in a higher court. Police sources said that Desai is also
wanted by the Glen Rock police department in New Jersey in a cheating
case.
Pragnesh, who is married with two children, divorced
his Indian wife for Leona. But he reportedly could not bear the separation
from his children and used to meet them frequently. Desai offered his
Indian wife for a reunion but she turned down the proposal saying this
was not possible with Leona still in his life. Pragnesh once again got
involved with his wife and family due to which Leona got jealous and
allegedly hired some men to eliminate Pragnesh's family.