India resumes extradition to US after 17 years, sends Indian citizen wanted in fatal car crash case
India has kicked off extraditions to the United States again after a 17-year break, handing over a fugitive Indian citizen wanted for a deadly car crash two decades ago.
Ganesh Shenoy, now 54, finally faced justice when U.S. Marshals grabbed him in Mumbai and flew him to New York on Thursday. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced the news on Monday, noting that Shenoy had dodged authorities for years after the tragic incident.
“After decades of evading law enforcement and dodging prosecution, my office finally returned this defendant to the United States to answer for the tragic death of a husband and father of two more than 20 years ago,” Donnelly said.
Shenoy showed up in court the next day, Friday, where a judge ordered him held without bail as he prepares to fight the charges.
The crash unfolded in the early morning hours of April 2005 in Hicksville, a New York City suburb. Philip Mastropolo, 44, was heading to work when Shenoy—driving at twice the speed limit—blew through a red light. The impact sent Mastropolo’s car skidding about 20 meters before slamming into a truck. Mastropolo died at the scene.
Shenoy ended up in a hospital but turned down treatment. Even though police took his Indian passport, he slipped away and caught a flight to Mumbai just 14 days later.
Back in August 2005, Nassau County charged Shenoy with second-degree manslaughter, a serious offense under New York law that could land him up to 15 years in prison. It’s similar to India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita rules on rash or negligent acts that don’t quite reach culpable homicide. An Interpol Red Notice went out to help track him down.
This extradition marks a big step under the U.S.-India extradition treaty signed in 1997. The agreement lets both countries send over suspects for crimes punishable by more than a year in jail, as long as the laws match up on both sides.
Officials say this case could signal smoother cooperation between India and the US on extraditions moving forward.
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