Oslo couple denies charges, to appeal if convicted

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A day ahead of the judgement to be pronounced by a court in Norway in the case of the Hyderabad couple accused of abusing their seven-year-old son, lawyers for the couple say they will appeal if the couple is convicted.

V. Chandrasekhar, an engineer with TCS on deputation to Oslo, and his wife Ms Anupama were arrested last Monday and are being tried in the Oslo district court.

They have denied the charge that they beat their son for wetting his pants.

Chandrasekhar’s nephew V. Sailendra says the family is anxiously awaiting the verdict on Monday. “The lawyers are making efforts to ensure that my uncle and aunt’s side of the story is heard.

One of the counsels, Ms Marte Svarstad, told the media that it was wrong to keep my aunt and uncle in the prison. The lawyers argued that the couple followed all the legal procedures and suggestions given by child welfare department and police.”

Couple did not get any help, says counsel

Sources in the TCS, for whom Mr V. Chandrasekhar works in Oslo, said that the lawyers are ready to appeal in case of a conviction.

One of the counsels, Ms Marte Svarstad said, “They didn’t hurt the kids...they had some difficulties in handling Sai Sriram. They didn’t mean to do anything wrong. They tried to get help but they did not get any help.”

Sailendra says Sai Sriram who is otherwise a hyperactive child appears depressed as there is lot of media attention at the house in Miyapur where he lives with his younger brother and grandparents. “Sai Sriram has realised that his dad is not talking to him on Skype from Norway and there is something wrong,” Mr Sailendra said.

The family is convinced the charge of maltreatment is false. The parents of Mr Chandrasekar, Mr V. Satyanarayana and Ms Srimahalaxmi, are being consoled by visiting relatives.

“Anupama is kind-hearted. She knows how to treat children. She is a B.Tech graduate and she was at home, not going to work in order to raise the kids as her husband worked,” says Ms Srimahalaxmi.