November 3, 2009 11:51:16 pm
Three years after Vikram Buddhi was arrested in the US for allegedly posting an online hate message against then President George Bush,his father will finally hear from the Indian government on what progress it has made in its efforts to secure his release.
On Wednesday,Dr Buddhi Kota Subbarao is set to be given a government update on the action taken. Subbarao has been fighting a lone legal battle for the release of his son,lodged in a prison in Chicago. US authorities had even deported Subbarao to India; illegally,he says,to block legal help to his son.
After several requests to the Ministry of External Affairs,ministers and senators,the Indian Consulate in US,and several officials,Subbarao was finally called on October 29 for a meeting with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna,to explain his sons case. This was after several letters to the minister and other departments seeking government intervention.
I explained to the Minister the gross irregularities in Vikrams case carried out by Judge James T. Moody. The minister agreed there was no valid indictment charge mentioned in the case and Vikram apparently looked to have been framed, Subbarao said.
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Subbarao,a former Indian Navy Captain,urged the Minister for government intervention and a dialogue with the US authorities and Department of Justice for a review of his sons case.
The Minister noticed irregularities committed by Judge Moody and referred the case to the law department for possible options before the government in securing justice for Vikram. The minister assured me that by Wednesday,I will be receiving correspondence from the Ministry on the action taken.
Vikram,who was studying applied mathematics at Purdue University,was arrested in April 2006 and charged on 11 counts. He was found guilty but his sentencing has been getting postponed since 2007. The next date for pronouncement of sentence is November 19.
Whatever action is taken has to be before the sentence and the government has to act fast. I said as much to Mr Krishna who agreed with me in principle and directed his officials to act swiftly, said Subbarao.
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