Runaway NRI mother told to take son back to US

Acting on a plea by New York-based medical practitioner, Ravi Chandran, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Tarun Chatterjee ordered deportation of his ex-wife Vijayashree Voora and seven-year-old son to New York. Bhadra Sinha reports.

Acting on a plea by New York-based medical practitioner, Ravi Chandran, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Tarun Chatterjee ordered deportation of his ex-wife Vijayashree Voora and seven-year-old son to New York on Tuesday.

HT Image

Chandran had moved the Supreme Court after the Indian police failed to trace his son and Voora, who ran to India following a bitter custody battle in New York.

On Chandran’s petition the Supreme Court had directed Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to trace the child who was finally recovered from Chennai on October 25. The CBI also arrested Voora and produced her along with the son before the Supreme Court.

In its final judgment, the apex court asked Chandran and Voora to move the appropriate court in New York for a final adjudication on the custody issue.

The Supreme Court asked Voora to return within a fortnight. Until a New York court passes an appropriate order, the couple has to abide by a consent order recorded by the Family Court of the State of New York on June 18, 2007.

If Voora fails to comply with the order, her son's passport would be given to Chandran, who could take him to the
US.

After delving into the background of the boy, the Supreme Court felt his return to New York was for his welfare, security, and development of his personality and talent.

Voora had been on the run after a New York court had granted joint custody in June 2007. Chandran had moved the apex court for its help in September 2007.