Supreme Court blames Delhi Police negligence for child's escape to Russia

The Supreme Court of India issued an order directing the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs to immediately contact the Indian Embassy in Russia to locate a minor child and the petitioner, Viktoriia Basu, who were removed from the Court's custody.

Who it concerns: The order concerns the petitioner Viktoriia Basu, the minor child, the State of West Bengal, the Union of India (Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs), the Delhi Police, and the Indian Embassy in Moscow.

What the document says

• The Court found that the removal of the child was due to the negligence and failure of the Delhi Police to maintain vigil as directed in a previous order dated 22.05.2025.
• The Court directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) or the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately apprise the Indian Embassy in Moscow to establish contact with the petitioner and the child.
• The Court stated that the child was in the custody of the Court under 'parens patriae' and that the removal constitutes a flagrant violation inviting criminal contempt proceedings.
• The Court noted that the petitioner traveled from Delhi to Nepal, then to Sharjah, UAE, and finally to Russia, and that the child's original passport remains in the custody of the Court.
• The Court directed authorities to use Interpol services and take legal/diplomatic action under bilateral and multilateral treaties to produce the petitioner and child before the Court.
• The matter was posted for 22.08.2025, with the consideration of roving writs and non-bailable warrants reserved for the next hearing.

Also in the document

• The Court observed that the Delhi Police failed to act on a complaint from the child's father after the petitioner left the residence on 07.07.2025.
• The Court noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs is collecting information from the Governments of Nepal and UAE regarding the method and documents used to escape India.
• The Court mentioned that the authorities have not considered the potential offenses of forging or duplicating the child's passport, as the original is held by the Court.