Kiranjeet Kaur, the alleged lover of a Gold Coast businessman whose pregnant wife was kidnapped and killed in India in March earlier this year, has reportedly declined to provide her DNA sample to the Australian Federal Police.
Speaking with SBS Punjabi, a member of Ms Kaur’s legal team from Gold Coast-based Donnelly Law group has confirmed the development.
“A DNA sample would have been taken to confirm or deny her involvement in the case,” said a member of Ms Kaur’s legal team.
“It is impossible to imagine as to how the sample would have been of use in Australia. The only way it could have been needed was for overseas use."
“The police has to go through a proper legislative process to seek a sample which in this case they did not follow,” he added.
Meanwhile, Michael Mcmillan, Principal at the Brisbane-based Mcmillan law firm and an experienced criminal lawyer in Queensland said it was within Ms Kaur’s legal right to refuse to provide the sample.
“Unless the police can draw a connection between the events here in Queensland, there is no chance of them being allowed by the court to force her to provide her sample,” Mr Mcmillan told SBS Punjabi.
He, however, clarified that things would change if she was charged in Australia.
Background of the case:
Aged care nurse Ravneet Kaur went missing from her parent’s village, Bagge Ke Pippal in Ferozepur district in the northern state of Punjab on March 14, eleven days after she arrived in India with her four-year-old daughter.
Her body was found 200 km away from her parent's village, dumped in the Bhakra Canal on March 25.
Police in the northern Indian state of Punjab have alleged that her husband of six years, Jaspreet Singh was having an affair and "conspired" with his alleged mistress, Kiranjeet Kaur to have his wife abducted and murdered.
The duo, along with two other suspects have been charged in India, for conspiracy and murder. A police officer in India investigating the case outlined the facts alleged by the Punjab police for SBS Punjabi.
“He (Jaspreet Singh) has an extramarital affair with a woman living in the Gold Coast. That woman travelled to India and along with her sister, kidnapped Ravneet when she was talking to her husband through a video call. The husband asked her to step out of the house and show her around the village,” Mohit Dhawan, the police officer investigating the case told SBS Punjabi.
However, the Indian police have not made public the factual basis for these allegations, which are strongly denied by both Mr Singh and Ms Kaur.
Kiranjeet Kaur was reportedly questioned by federal agents at the Surfers Paradise police station in Gold Coast in April last month.
After the questioning, her barrister, Chris Rosser had told Courier Mail that Ms Kaur denied any involvement in the murder and was assisting the police with the investigation.
“She is horrified at what happened to her friend and wants to help police bring those responsible to justice,” Mr Rosser had said.
Deceased Ms Kaur's husband, Jaspreet Singh, too has denied all allegations.
"I don't know what the basis of all these allegations is," Mr Singh told SBS Punjabi in an earlier interview.
“I can’t say anything. I will have to go to India and find out what happened. I have no role in this whatsoever,” he said.
The Indian police is yet to initiate extradition of Ms Kaur from Australia, confirmed a member of Ms Kaur’s legal team.
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