Overview
- The court admonished Delhi Police and the Centre over slow progress since July and questioned why an Interpol Red Corner Notice was not issued earlier.
- Officials told the bench that a Blue Notice is in place for Viktoriia Basu and a Yellow Notice for the child, as the judges pressed for upgrading to a Red Corner Notice.
- Delhi Police cited evidence naming two Russian embassy officials, Albert Shtoda and Arthur Gerbst, for arranging a vehicle to the Indo‑Nepal border, yet custodial interrogation has not been sought.
- Fresh legal assistance requests were sent on October 17 to Russia’s prosecutor general through MLAT channels, with parallel outreach to Nepal, as Sberbank declined to share card details citing secrecy laws.
- The Russian Embassy said media reports are speculative, asserted it is in close contact with Indian authorities, and stated it acts to protect Russian citizens’ rights under Indian law.