A man involved in a hit and run that left a student dead in Melbourne has been taken into custody in India, where he fled after the 2008 incident.
Puneet Puneet was a 19-year-old learner driver when he killed Queenslander Dean Hofstee while speeding in Southbank.
Puneet was travelling at 150 kilometres per hour with a blood alcohol reading of 0.165 at the time of the crash.
He pleaded guilty to culpable driving and was on bail awaiting sentence in 2009 when he fled Australia using a friend's passport.
Puneet was arrested four years later in India, on his wedding day, and has been facing drawn-out extradition proceedings.
In a statement, Victoria Police said Puneet was remanded into custody in India yesterday.
Victoria Police said it would not be making any further comment while the extradition process continued.
'Appalling conduct', Premier says
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described Puneet as a "coward".
"Obviously, I've made many comments in the past about that individual and the cowardly way in which he avoided justice for his appalling conduct," Mr Andrews said.
"So hopefully him coming back into custody back in India takes us a step closer to him serving time."
"He ran as cowards do and the family of his victim needs to have that justice, we all do," Mr Andrews said.
Earlier, a Victorian government spokesman said the state was working closely with the federal government to make sure Puneet was extradited back to Victoria as quickly as possible.
"Mr Puneet needs to return to Victoria to face the consequences of his actions, and we won't rest until justice is served," a state government spokesman said.
Puneet is expected to face court in India next Friday.
