New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday slammed the Delhi Police for their failure to act promptly in locating a Russian woman, Victoria Basu, who fled the country with her child, who was born out of wedlock to her Indian husband, amid an ongoing child custody dispute.
A bench led by Justice Surya Kant said that the woman was able to get away with the child due to “sheer negligence” on the part of the Delhi Police, who failed to act in a timely manner despite specific orders of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court stated that since neither parent had been granted custody, the child was under the Supreme Court’s custody. Despite this, the child was taken away by the lady.
“It’s a child custody dispute case where the custody has not yet been given to either of the parents. The custody of the child was with the Supreme Court. The petitioner (Victoria) was able to snatch the child away from the custody of the Supreme Court,” the bench said during the hearing.
The bench also remarked that the Delhi Police is “equal partners” in violation of the top court’s earlier order, where it had directed the Delhi Police to maintain a discreet but effective vigil over the residential premises of both parties.
“What have they been doing, the Delhi Police? From July 7-14 (when the petitioner woman is alleged to have been fleeing) is the most crucial time when they failed to act. What is their explanation for that? They should have done something,” the Court said during the hearing.
