Supreme Court Rebukes Delhi Police Over Negligence in Child Custody Case

The Supreme Court on Friday harshly criticized the Delhi Police for their failure to promptly locate Victoria Basu, a Russian woman who absconded with her child amid a custody dispute with her Indian husband. Heading the bench, Justice Surya Kant attributed the woman's escape to 'sheer negligence' by the Delhi Police, who delayed action despite Supreme Court orders.

The Court emphasized that since neither parent had been awarded custody, the child was under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Despite this, Basu succeeded in taking the child. 'The petitioner managed to snatch the child from Supreme Court custody,' the bench observed during the hearing.

The bench also held the Delhi Police equally accountable for disobeying earlier directives to maintain a vigilant yet discreet watch over the residences involved. 'What were the Delhi Police doing?' the Court questioned, highlighting the period from July 7-14 as a critical window of police inaction.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Union government, said status reports by the Central Ministries of Home and External Affairs had been submitted. However, the Court remained unconvinced of the Delhi Police's explanations, questioning their failure to act on Supreme Court orders.

'Despite her travel, she should have been trackable,' the Court noted with dissatisfaction, pointing out her four-day stay in Kathmandu. The bench criticized the failure to contact Nepal's International Airport authorities, noting global airport ties with Interpol could aid such pursuits.

The Court instructed the Delhi Police to collaborate with the Indian embassy in Moscow and Interpol to locate Basu and her child, warning of severe directives if compliance fails. Previously, the government informed the Court of Basu's extralegal exit from India, with the Ministry of External Affairs investigating potential collusion by Russian officials. Next hearing is scheduled in 10 days.

(With inputs from agencies.)