Lucknow businessman Nitin Mishra in Albania jail: Lawyer seeks PMO help

LUCKNOW: The lawyer of Lucknow businessman Nitin Mishra, who is in Albania jail for alleged 'drug trafficking' since October 14, has written to the Prime Minister office (PMO) and the ministry of external affairs (MEA), seeking their intervention for his safe release.

Harjot Singh, the UK-based human rights lawyer, who is representing Mishra, told TOI that the Indian government would have to intervene to get Nitin released as Albanian Police arrested him without following the laid-down procedures. Singh had told TOI on Sunday that Nitin's appeared to be a case of mistaken identity. "Or, it could be possible that his credentials were stolen and being misused," he said.

Harjot Singh told TOI that the Indian government will have to intervene in the release of Nitin Mishra as Albania has arrested him without following laid procedures.

Singh said he would also move the European Court of Human Rights, appealing against the violation of Vienna convention and human rights in this case. "We are also planning to meet UK PM Rishi Sunak and apprise him about the case," he told TOI.

"On Monday, we also got support from former UK minister and member of parliament Keith Vaz, who is Britain's longest serving Indian origin MP. He now heads the think tank the integration foundation. "Vaz has contacted the Albanian PM Edi Rama and Requests him for a fair representation for Nitin Mishra," Singh told TOI. Nitin's father Vasudev Mishra told TOI his son had decided to start a new business venture after being impressed with PM Modi's initiative of 'Make in India' and had gone to Albania to secure a few orders for export.

"His plan was to come back after securing those orders and start a manufacturing unit in Lucknow so that the clothes could be exported to Albania," he said.

"Nitin had also received a proposal from clients in Albania who were interested in Indian fabrics and therefore decided to visit Tirana on a tourist visa on October 12, 2022 via Dubai to explore this option in order to start his new business. He had booked a flight from Mumbai to Dubai and then Dubai to Tirana. "His return was also booked via Dubai on October 17 and he was to land in Mumbai on October 18," he said.

Mishra, a Lucknow-based readymade garment exporter arrested in Albanian capital Tirana on October 14 on charges of drug trafficking. The Albanian police reportedly acted in coordination with US's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to arrest him. He has been remanded in police custody pending his possible extradition to the USA.

The family came to know through an Albanian English newspaper that he had been arrested in Rinas, 20 km from Tirana, by the local police for 'drug trafficking'. Nitin's family didn't get any formal communication from Albanian authorities or police about his arrest.


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