JOIN USThe apex court said CBI officials should be given all powers to trace the child Aditya Chandran and, if necessary, issue a non-bailable warrant against the mother Vijayashree Voora who is said to be mentally unstable and was divorced from her husband V Ravichandran.
The apex court passed the directions on a petition by the NRI father Ravichandran as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh admitted that despite their best efforts they could not trace the mother and the child for the past two years. The SC said it was passing the direction as it was necessary to ensure the health and safety of the eight-year old boy. Ravichandran and Vijayashree Voora got married on December 14, 2000 and Aditya was born to them on July 1, 2002 in the US.
Following a matrimonial discord, the marriage between the couple was dissolved and the custody of the child was granted to them jointly on the condition that Aditya would be looked after by the estranged couple by turn in alternate weeks. However, on June 28, 2007, Vijayashree fled to India along with Aditya and thereafter, her whereabouts are not known. On August 8, 2007, the Family Court, State of New York, had also issued a “child abuse non-bailable warrant against the woman.” Despite announcements through the media and other means by the police of TN, AP and Karnataka, where she was believed to be seen at different times, she could not be traced till date.