Red Corner Notice Issued for Russian Woman in Custody Dispute
A Red Corner notice has been issued for Viktoriia Basu, a Russian national, who reportedly left India with her young son last year after the Supreme Court granted joint custody to both parents, Delhi Police informed the Saket court on Thursday.
The police further updated the court that they have requested her extradition through the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassy in Moscow. A Red Corner notice is a worldwide request for law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest a person as part of extradition processes, although the decision to arrest rests with each member country.
Background of the Case
The issue began when an FIR was filed at the Defence Colony police station in Delhi in 2025, initiated by Saikat Basu, who married Viktoriia in 2017. Their son was born on October 29, 2020.
Viktoriia moved to India in 2019. After their marriage ended, she sought full custody of their son in court in 2023. When attempts to reconcile failed, the Supreme Court granted joint custody in May, allowing each parent to spend three days a week with the child. The court also extended Viktoriia’s visa and asked the Delhi Police to monitor her residence.
However, on July 7 of that year, Saikat reported to the court that Viktoriia and their son had disappeared. This prompted a search by law enforcement and involvement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
The case is currently before the Saket District Court. At a hearing on Thursday, Delhi Police provided a status update to Judicial Magistrate First Class Deepakshi Rana. They requested more time, stating that a formal extradition request had been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs via the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassy in Moscow. This request aims to locate Viktoriia, who is the main suspect in the FIR filed by Saikat Basu.
The police also mentioned they are carefully reviewing the documents submitted by the complainant to outline the next steps.
Statements from the Russian Embassy
In November of last year, the Russian embassy expressed that it was in close contact with Indian authorities regarding this situation. They emphasized their commitment to safeguarding the rights and interests of Russian citizens while complying with Indian laws. The embassy stated, “We maintain ongoing communication with the competent Indian authorities concerning Ms. Basu.”
Furthermore, police reports suggested that two Russian embassy officials assisted Viktoriia by providing transportation when she went missing on July 7. This vehicle allegedly took her to the India-Nepal border in Bihar, from where she reportedly traveled to Russia through Sharjah.
The situation remains under investigation, and authorities are working diligently to resolve the matter.
