The Delhi Police are investigating the suspected role of a Russian embassy officer in helping a Russian woman, Victoria Basu, and her four-year-old son flee India amidst a custody battle. The Supreme Court has taken strong exception to the woman evading authorities and has indicated that diplomatic channels may need to be activated.
The case involves Victoria Basu and her Indian husband, Saikat Basu, who are engaged in a custody dispute over their child. The child and mother went missing on July 7th. The father claims that he last saw the woman on July 4th as she entered the Russian Embassy through a backdoor. He also alleges that she is in a relationship with a diplomat.
The Delhi Police traced Victoria Basu's movements using IP addresses, revealing that she traveled from her home on July 7th to Bihar on July 8th, then to Nepal between July 11th and 12th, and finally to Russia on July 16th. The Supreme Court noted that the child's passport had been surrendered in court, leading to suspicions that a fabricated passport was created with assistance from the Russian Embassy. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi has stated that the woman's escape could not have occurred without the embassy's help.
During a Supreme Court hearing, the Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhatti stated that the Russian Embassy is cooperating in the case. The embassy confirmed that Victoria Basu visited on July 5th seeking legal help regarding issues with her Indian husband.
The Supreme Court has directed authorities to seize Victoria Basu's passport and instructed all international airports, ports, and immigration authorities to prevent her and the child from leaving the country. While acknowledging the diplomatic autonomy of embassies, the court has warned that if any embassy personnel are found to have committed an offense under Indian law, legal action will be taken. The court has urged senior Russian Embassy officials to assist Indian authorities in enforcing its orders and has criticized the woman's counsel for providing unclear information about her whereabouts. The Supreme Court has directed the central government to issue a lookout notice for the Russian woman and has asked the embassy to cooperate.
