Latest news with #SaikatBasu


India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Lookout notice for missing Russian woman, child; top court suspects 'collusion'
The Supreme Court on Friday expressed grave concern over the disappearance of a Russian woman and her child amid an ongoing custody battle with her estranged Indian husband, even suggesting the possibility of "collusion" in her Basu, a Russian national, and her four-and-a-half-year-old child have been missing since July 7. Hearing a petition filed by Victoria's estranged husband Saikat Basu, the bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed police to trace the mother and child top court also noted the woman may have had outside help. "There may be a possibility of a collusion... someone may have helped her on a private level," the judges said. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati informed the bench that a lookout circular has been issued and that the government is in contact with the Russian Embassy."She did not leave the country using legal channels," Bhati also mentioned that the woman's last known financial transaction was on July 6 and that her Canara Bank account now shows a balance of only Rs 169."She has frugal means... She may have gone somewhere on foot," the ASG bench replied, "She may not have travelled by air, but there are other means."It directed the police to gather information from all major railway stations and transport hubs to determine whether she was still in the National Capital Region or had left."They need to be found immediately," the bench 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 have also reached out to Instagram and Gmail seeking access to her digital activity, the court was told. The woman's maternal grandmother could not be custody dispute dates back to an earlier court directive, which gave the father 20 hours a day with the child and the mother the remaining four hours, a schedule later modified to alternate three and four-day custody each Saikat Basu approached the court again earlier this month, alleging that Victoria had vanished with the child and was seen entering the Russian Embassy's back gate with luggage, reportedly accompanied by an embassy official. He expressed fears that the two may have left Supreme Court has asked Delhi Police to expedite the investigation and continue providing status updates.- EndsTrending Reel


Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘Do something very quickly': Supreme Court directs Centre to trace Russian woman in custody row
Victoria Basu, a Russian mother who allegedly absconded with her four-year-old son after a child custody battle with his Indian father, Saikat Basu, has not left the country through legal channels, the Central government informed the Supreme Court on Friday, adding that she still remains 'untraceable'. Appearing for the Centre and the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said the Ministry of Home Affairs have issued 'look out notices' and 'hue and cry' notices to all senior police officials across the country to trace the missing Russian woman. A bench led by Justice Surya Kant, while flagging several issues, directed the authorities to immediately inquire with the Railway officials and other means of public transport to trace any moment of the missing woman and the child. The apex court bench also directed the Delhi Police to check CCTV footage of all entry and exits of Delhi NCR in their ongoing probe to find the missing persons. 'They need to do something very quickly,' Justice Surya Kant said and posted the matter to 21 July. Earlier on Thursday, the apex court had asked the Centre to issue a look-out notice for the woman and the minor to ensure she did not leave the country. It had also directed senior Delhi Police officials to immediately trace them. The bench also 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. The Indian father is fighting a custody battle for the child with his estranged Russian wife. He has alleged that the woman wasn't complying with the court's order of custody of the minor. Saikat Basu also claimed he is unaware of the whereabouts of his wife and the child since 7 July. The man claimed that despite several complaints, no action was taken. On 22 May, the apex court directed that the exclusive custody of the child was given to the mother for three days in a week, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The child was directed to remain in the exclusive custody of his father for the remaining days. It also directed the Deputy Commissioners of Police (South East and South) and the station house officers of Lajpat Nagar and Defence Colony Police stations to maintain a discreet but effective vigil over the residential premises of both parties.


NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Do Something Quickly": Top Court Asks Centre To Find Russian Woman, Child
New Delhi: Victoria Basu, the Russian woman who is missing with her four-year-old child, has not left India through legal channels, the Central government informed the Supreme Court on Friday. The woman-- who allegedly absconded with her son from her marriage to an Indian man, Saikat Basu-- remains 'untraceable', the centre said. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Centre and Delhi police, told the top court that 'look out notices' and 'hue and cry' notices have been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs asking all senior police officials across the country to trace the missing woman. ASG Bhati told the court that the Russian embassy is fully cooperating with Indian authorities in the matter. Ms Basu's father is reportedly a retired officer with the FSB, i.e., Russian intelligence. "The Russian ambassador has informed that the woman approached the embassy on July 5 and made a complaint about her husband's misbehaviour. However, the embassy asked her to reach out to the police," she said. On July 10, the woman's mother lodged a complaint with the embassy, saying her daughter was missing. But she was also reportedly advised to contact the Delhi Police. The woman's husband, Saikat Basu, had alleged his estranged wife -- as divorce proceedings are pending before a family court in Delhi's Saket -- had been seen furtively entering the Russian embassy in Delhi via the back gate earlier this month with luggage. He claimed she had been accompanied by an embassy official. While hearing submissions, a bench led by Justice Surya Kant flagged several issues and directed the authorities to immediately inquire with the Railway officials and other means of public transport to trace any moment of the missing woman and the child. The bench also directed the Delhi police to check CCTV footage of all entry and exits of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) in their ongoing probe to find the woman and the child. "They need to do something very quickly", Justice Surya Kant stated, flagging concern over the circumstances in which the missing woman may be and the safety of the child. After issuing directions, the Supreme Court posted the matter to Monday, July 21. According to the woman's husband, there was a custody deal in place that would see the boy spend three days a week with his mother and the rest with him. On May 22, she took custody of the boy, which was the last time Mr Basu saw him, he told the court on Thursday. The couple initially met in China, where the husband worked as an engineer for a software company and subsequently married in India in 2017.


India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Trace them: Supreme Court orders government to hunt for Russian woman, child
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to issue a look-out circular against a Russian woman who is allegedly on the run with her four-and-a-half-year-old son from her marriage to an Indian man in a child custody top court has directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to locate the woman - Victoria Basu - and her son and file a status report by 2 pm on Friday (July 18). The woman has gone 'missing' since July bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi heard Victoria Basu's plea and sought a report into the matter from the Delhi Police Commissioner. The court also asked the Russian embassy to cooperate with the Delhi Police on the issue while hearing a plea of Saikat Basu, the estranged husband of the Russian woman, and a resident of Kolkata. As part of a child custody deal, the Supreme Court had said that the child should stay with the father for 20 hours a day and the remaining four hours with the mother. This order was for two this, the top court amended its order and allowed the custody to be with the mother for three days a week and the remaining four days with the when Saikat Basu did not get the custody of the child from Victoria Basu earlier this month, he filed an application in the Supreme Court. According to the application, there was no trace of Victoria Basu and her the father's application, the top court directed the Delhi Police to investigate the matter and inform the status and get a look-out circular issued against Victoria to reports, Saikat Basu claimed that his estranged wife - whose divorce proceedings are pending before a family court - was seen entering the Russian Embassy in Delhi from the back gate with luggage earlier this also alleged that Victoria Basu had been accompanied by an embassy official and feared that she and her child may have since fled Supreme Court will resume hearing the matter on Friday.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Supreme Court#Delhi


News18
3 days ago
- News18
'Trace The Child': SC Tells MEA To Issue Lookout Notice For Absconding Russian Woman
Last Updated: Supreme Court orders lookout for Russian woman missing with son after custody deal breach. The Supreme Court has ordered the Ministry Of External Affairs and Delhi Police to track down a Russian woman, Victoria Basu, who allegedly disappeared with her five-year-old son, violating a custody agreement with her estranged husband, Saikat Basu, according to a report by broadcaster NDTV. The court directed the External Affairs and Home ministries to issue look-out notices and told Delhi Police to trace the child without delay and hand him over to the father. The case concerns Victoria Basu, a Russian citizen married to Saikat Basu, an Indian national. The couple shares a five-year-old son. As per Saikat Basu, the child, who was supposed to be with his mother as part of a custody arrangement, has been missing along with Victoria since July 7. Saikat approached the Supreme Court, alleging that Victoria has absconded with the child. A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the External Affairs Ministry and Home Ministry to issue look-out notices against Victoria Basu. The court also asked the Delhi Police to trace the child immediately and hand custody over to the father. view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 15:58 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.