Pascal refused visitation rights

A local court on Wednesday refused to grant visitation rights to French Consulate official Pascal Mazurier, who is accused of raping his minor daughter.

However, Pascal’s parents have been given access to his three children by the third Additional Family Court. The parents of Mazurier can meet their grandchildren in the judge’s chambers on February 8 from 3 pm to 3.30 pm.

Citing the case of abuse against Pascal, the court rejected his plea to allow him to visit his children. Pascal had filed an application on January 11 to allow visitation rights for his family. However, his wife Suja Jones had earlier secured a restraining order against him.

Pascal also has a case pending in the High Court seeking quashing of the case.

Agencies from France have reported that the lawyers representing Pascal in the sexual assualt case have been granted an audience at French President Francois Hollande's official residence.

The agencies also quoted Pascal Mazurier's lawyers saying they would be bringing defamation charges against his wife in France, on the basis of her alleged fabrication of evidence in the case. The lawyers are said to have discussed with Hollande’s aides about Pascal gaining access to see his three children. All the three children and the mother are French nationals.

Reacting to the reports that French president met with the French lawyers of Pascal Mazurier, Suja Jones told Deccan Herald that her legal counsel in France had written a letter to the French authorities reminding them of their promise to remain neutral in the case and respect the Indian judicial system.

The letter also urged them to place the welfare of the victim above the rest as even she was a French citizen. She refused to comment on the court granting visitation rights to Pascal’s parents to meet their grandchildren.