Jailed Lucknow businessman's kin meet Rajnath Singh, seek early release

LUCKNOW: The family of Lucknow businessman Nitin Mishra, who is languishing in Albania jail since October 14 in a case of 'mistaken identity', on Saturday met defence minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh and sought intervention by the Indian government and a fair representation for their son.

Nitin's elder sister Naina Mishra told TOI that she met Singh at his official residence in Delhi.

"The minister gave our case a patient hearing and said he would take up the matter with external affairs minister S Jaishankar and get it expedited," she said.

She also said she is seeking an appointment with external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday.

Have prepared to serve a notice on the Albanian authorities: Lawyer
We have already met officials of the MEA and home ministry and they have assured action in the case. Our only plea is that it is a case of ‘mistaken identity’. My brother is innocent and only wanted to start a business of chikan garments in Albania,” she said. Naina is an online coach based in Bangalore and works with a content writing company. She dashed to Lucknow first and then reached Delhi with lawyers Aishwarya Luthra and Vivek Rai.

Luthra told TOI that they have given an application to the defence minister mentioning every detail of Nitin and explaining that he had never been involved in any crime and hence must be released at the earliest. On the other hand, UK-based lawyer Harjot Singh, who has been handling the case, said they have prepared to serve a notice on the Albanian authorities, citing violation of the Vienna Convention in which a person cannot be detained and arrested before informing their native country.

Nitin was arrested in the Albanian capital Tirana on October 14 on charges of drug trafficking. The Albanian police reportedly acted in coordination with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The family came to know about his arrest through an Albanian English newspaper. They never got any formal communication from Albanian authorities or the police about the arrest.