Husband of Chaithanya ’Swetha’ Madhagani does not hold Indian citizenship

The husband who fled to India before his wife was found dead in a wheelie bin made a decision years ago that could make it easier for authorities to bring him back to Australia.

Any move to bring the husband of murdered Melbourne woman Chaithanya “Swetha” Madhagani back to Australia may be aided by him not holding Indian citizenship.

The Herald Sun understands Ashok Raj Varikupalla, who has reportedly told his wife’s family that he killed her, would be treated as a foreign national if Australia seeks his extradition from India.

Mr Varikupalla flew to India in the period before his wife’s body was found in a wheelie bin near Geelong on March 9.

He took their three-year-old son with him, handing the child over to her family in Hyderabad.

The Herald Sun understands Mr Varikupalla and Ms Madhagani had become Australian citizens after deciding some years ago they wanted to make a life here.

Ashok Raj Varikupalla and Chaithanya Madhagani.

India’s constitution does not allow people who have been naturalised in another country to have dual citizenship.

That has the potential to make the process of any future move to extradite Mr Varikupalla less complicated.

It is believed Ms Madhagani was murdered at the couple’s Mirka Way, Point Cook, home.

The body of the outgoing and friendly mum was found off Mount Pollock Rd in Buckley, prompting a major homicide squad investigation.

Detectives have searched and forensically examined the family home as part of their inquiry.

They have also seized the couple’s white Mercedes-Benz SUV as part of the hunt for evidence.

If an extradition is sought, the first step of the process will involve detectives putting together a brief of evidence of a standard which would be put before a court in a criminal prosecution.

It would then be handed to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and, if approved, it would then go via diplomatic channels to Indian authorities.

Chaithanya Madhagani before her death.

A court in that country would then consider the application’s merits.

Victoria Police declined to comment.

A statement issued by the force at the time of the discovery of Ms Madhagani’s body said: “it is believed the parties involved are known to one another and the offender may have fled overseas.”

There have been fears of a protracted extradition process.

Killer driver Puneet Puneet is still in India, almost 15 years after the speeding drink-driver ploughed into him on City Rd, inflicting fatal injuries.

Puneet left Australia a year later on a mate’s passport and has not returned, despite relentless efforts by police and diplomatic officials.