Oslo couple face jail, India steps back

Dec 02, 2012 - U. SUDHAKAR REDDY |

Hyderabad/New Delhi

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Hope is fading for the Hyderabad couple charged with child abuse and facing the prospect of 18 months imprisonment in Oslo, Norway.

The Indian government has refused to intervene in the case directly due to the serious nature of the criminal charges. However, an officer of the Indian Embassy in Oslo met the couple in jail and offered consular assistance, sources close to the family said.

External affairs minister Salman Khurshid was quoted by agencies as saying: “This is not an issue regarding the government, it is about a private citizen and the local laws of Norway. We express concern about something that happens to a citizen of our country, but within the parameters of the law as is applied by those countries. Because there is public interest and concern, our mission will make contact and do all that is appropriate.”

“We don’t want to make this a government to government affair as it is an internal matter of Norway. The mission is in touch and they will keep us briefed,” he added.

Oslo court refuses to cancel remand

The Oslo police has charged TCS employee V. Chandrasekhar and his wife Anupama with 'gross or repeated maltreatment of their child/children by threats, violence or other wrong', under Section 219 of the Norwegian Penal Code.

A district court in Oslo refused to cancel the remand of the couple on Friday, and observed that they will remain in custody as the judgement will be pronounced on Monday, December 3. If convicted, Mr Chandrasekhar will face an 18-month prison sentence and his wife 15 months.

Oslo police alleged that the seven-year-old child V. Sri Sairam informed authorities at the Oslo International School, where he was studying, that he was beaten by his parents when he wetted his pants. On examination, a scar resembling a burn injury was found on the boy’s body.

“Sai told the school authorities that his parents beat him because he wetted his pants in school. Oslo police said they also hit him for taking toys home and he refused to go home from the school,” said a source in the family.

During Friday’s hearing, the court refused to accept the contention of the family that the children (who are now in Hyderabad) needed their parents. The police argued that if they are released from remand they will evade prosecution by returning to India

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