Dingucha case: US court denies bail to ‘Dirty Harry’

A court in Minnesota in the US recently denied bail to Harshkumar Patel, 28, who is charged on multiple counts of ‘illegal transportation of aliens to the US’ including causing serious bodily injuries and placing lives in jeopardy in connection with deaths of four members of a family from Dingucha.

Patel’s alleged associate Steve Shand, who was arrested earlier, had identified ‘Dirty Harry’ as one of the aliases used by Harshkumar Patel. Harshkumar was caught from Chicago in Feb this year.

In Jan 2022, Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife Vaishali, 37, daughter Vihangi, 11, and son Dharmik, 3, froze to death while attempting to cross the Canada-US border illegally, 12 metres from the border. 

Their bodies were found by the border patrol after which investigations were initiated by the US and Canada police forces.

A Canadian news portal reported that Harshkumar had pleaded not guilty and had sought release from federal custody. 

His lawyer had told the court that he will live with his fiancée, an American citizen, in Tennessee. 

The court, however, termed Patel a ‘flight risk with ties to India and Canada,’ and safety concerns.

Harshkumar could be behind bars for 20 years if found guilty, according to sources 

The court also indicated no assurance from Harshkumar’s side to appear in the court in future.