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An Ontario lawyer facing extradition to the U.S. for his alleged role in an intercontinental drug smuggling ring is proposing to place himself under what he calls the “most stringent” conditions he’s seen in his decades-long career if released on bail.
Deepak Paradkar is proposing to remain on 24/7 house arrest without leaving home unless accompanied by one of his sureties — his wife and another relative — and to forgo all electronic devices except for his wife’s cellphone, to be used only in her presence and for specific purposes.
Paradkar, one of several Canadians arrested in an FBI investigation targeting Olympian-turned-fugitive Ryan Wedding, is also proposing to be under GPS monitoring and turn over his passport to the RCMP.
Paradkar told his bail hearing Wednesday that he and his wife are also each pledging $2.5 million, which he says represents almost all their assets.
U.S. officials allege the longtime lawyer from Thornhill, Ont., gave advice to Wedding about the murder of a federal witness.
The allegations have not been tested in Canadian courts, which will eventually rule on the extradition requests for Paradkar and other Canadians accused in the case.
