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After Sherin's murder, MEA tightens passport rules for adopted kids

Sushma Swaraj asks Maneka Gandhi to probe adoption process of Sherin AKA Saraswati
Last Updated 27 October 2017, 20:00 IST

The Ministry of External Affairs has tightened the rules for issuing passport for adopted children following the recent murder of three-year-old Sherin Mathews in Texas.

"After Baby Saraswati @ Sherin Mathews' case, we have taken a decision that passports for adopted children will be issued only with prior clearance by Ministry of (Women and) Child Development in all cases," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted on Friday.

Swaraj also requested her cabinet colleague, Maneka Gandhi, the Minister for Women and Child Development, to probe how Sherin was adopted by Wesley Mathews and his wife Sini Mathews, who were born in Qatar and United Arab Emirates respectively but had their family roots in India.

"I have requested @Manekagandhibjp Minister for Women and Child Development for a thorough investigation into the adoption process of Baby Saraswati@SherinMathews who has been killed by her foster father Wesley Mathews in United States," tweeted the External Affairs Minister.

Sherin, originally named Saraswati, was born on July 14, 2014. She was sent to an orphanage after her parent surrendered her. She was adopted by Wesley and Sini Mathews on July 8, 2016 and taken to Texas. 

She went missing on October 7 and her body was found near a culvert in suburban Dallas last Sunday. Wesley was re-arrested on Monday and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to conflicting statements given to the police. He was earlier arrested for suspected child endangerment for the treatment of his daughter but was released on bond.

Swaraj also asked Consul General of India in Houston in US to coordinate with the local law-enforcement agencies. "I have also asked Shri Anupam Ray @cgihou to ensure that the murder of Baby Saraswati @ Sherin Mathews is taken to a logical conclusion," she tweeted.

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(Published 27 October 2017, 17:40 IST)

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