No bail to Indian man held in UK on US extradition warrant

London: A British court has denied bail to an Indian national, who was arrested here by Scotland Yard on suspicion of funding Lebanon's Hezbollah, despite his arguments that he was of a Hindu background and did not support Islamist terrorism. Madurai-born Sundar Nagarajan, 65, appeared via video link at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and his lawyer said he denied the charges of fraud and money laundering against him. District Judge Briony Clarke was also told that Nagarajan was of a Hindu background and did not support Islamist terrorism. The judge refused the bail and remanded Nagarajan in custody to appear via video link at the same court on May 23. Nagarajan, also known as Nagarajan Sundar Poongulam Kasiviswanathan Naga and Sundar Poongulam K Nagarajan Nagarajan, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police's National Extradition Unit from an address at Hayes in west London on April 18. The court heard that armed police officers stormed his home to arrest him and seize his belongings. The Crown Prosecution Service, on behalf of the US authorities, told the court that Nagarajan is the accountant linked to the finances of the designated Hezballah terrorist organisation and is wanted by the US authorities for fraud and money laundering offences. - PTI