Supreme Court Suspects 'Collusion' In Disappearance Of Russian Woman Amid Child's Custody Case

News18

2 days ago

Delhi Police on Friday informed the Supreme Court that the Russian mother, pitted in a custody battle of her child, has not left the country, at least through legal means.
The Supreme Court on Friday expressed concern over the mysterious disappearance of a Russian woman and her child amid an ongoing custody battle with her estranged Indian husband and suggested the possibility of 'collusion" in her disappearance.
Victoria Basu, a Russian mother has allegedly absconded along with her five-year-old son amid the ongoing custody battle with her estranged husband, Saikat Basu. The mother-son duo has been missing since July 7. Saikat has alleged that Victoria wasn't complying with the court's order of custody of the minor.
Hearing the petition filed by Saikat, the top court directed senior Delhi Police officials to immediately trace a child and asked the Centre to issue a look out notice with regard to the woman and the minor to ensure she did not leave the country.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi also directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the police to also probe the alleged association of the Russian embassy officials with the woman and whether they helped her in moving out of the country on a different passport, news agency PTI reported.
The top court directed the authorities to seize her passport and inform all international airports and other ports within India, and the immigration authorities to ensure they did not leave the country.
What Police Told The Top Court?
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Friday informed the Supreme Court that the Russian mother has not left the country, at least through legal means.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for Delhi police, said the Russian embassy was cooperating with the investigation and informed that the woman came to its consular section on July 5 and left the embassy in an hour.
'We have issued Look Out Circular against the woman and her child and issued hue and cry notices across all police stations of the country. From the information we received from all international airports and ports, we can say she has not left the country with the child at least through legal means," Bhati said as quoted by news agency PTI.
She also mentioned that the woman's last known financial transaction was on July 6 of Rs 250 and she has now only Rs 160 in her bank account.
The bench said, "This is a very precarious situation that she has just Rs 160 in her bank account. How is she sustaining herself and the child? The husband is not paying anything to her and even the court has not given anything to her."
Bhati further said the Russian ambassador to India had informed them that on July 10, the woman's mother had called from Russia to say that she could not be traced or contacted and thereafter they had informed Delhi Police.
She said all necessary actions were being taken to trace the child and the mother and notices have been sent to all superintendent of police across the country.
"She may have travelled domestically but not left the country through legal means," she added.
In its latest affidavit, Delhi Police said it has issued appropriate directions as per the court's July 17 order. Police visited the woman's last known rented address on May 22 and have since deployed personnel at key locations in and around the Defence Colony area.
Authorities have also reached out to Instagram and Gmail seeking access to her digital activity, the court was told.
Listing the matter on Monday, the bench further asked the authorities to see if the petitioner is still in national capital region, or has left it, by reaching out to authorities in railways and other modes of transport.
What's The Case?
The case concerns Victoria Basu, a Russian citizen married to Saikat Basu, an Indian national. The couple shares a five-year-old son.
The top court on May 22, 2025 directed that the exclusive custody of the child was given to the mother for three days in a week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and for the remaining days, the child was directed to remain in the exclusive custody of his father.
The mother of the child is a Russian citizen, who has been residing in India since 2019, initially coming to India on an X-1 Visa, which expired subsequently.
However, during the pendency of the court proceedings, the top court directed the extension of the visa from time to time.
Meanwhile, Saikat has alleged that his estranged wife, with divorce proceedings pending before a family court in Delhi's Saket, was seen earlier this month entering the Russian embassy in Delhi through the back gate, carrying luggage. He also claimed she was accompanied by an embassy official.
He told the court he feared Victoria and the child may have since fled India.
(With inputs from agencies)
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New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
July 18, 2025, 20:54 IST
News india Supreme Court Suspects 'Collusion' In Disappearance Of Russian Woman Amid Child's Custody Case
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