British national claims illegal detention

Chandigarh, Feb 15 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Haryana government to apprise the court of the status of investigation into the allegation of a British national, Christina Siwek, regarding her illegal detention and threatening calls made by the owner of a Gurgaon-based company.

Christina, working for an Italian company, has prayed for a CBI probe into the incident as the police has failed to do anything on the complaint lodged by her with Udyog Vihar police station, Gurgaon.

It has been alleged by the petitioner that her company Concercia Priante Spa, Italy had placed an order with Kabir Leathers of Gurgaon and had advanced heavy amount along with samples. As the supplies did not come through, she came to India to find out the position and the reason behind the delay in executing the order.

On February 9, 2007 she went to the premises of the company and told the owner to return the samples. As she was about to leave, the gate was shut and she was threatened. Apprehending insecurity, she called up the British High Commission as also the Italian embassy, the petitioner added.

After coming out, she made a complaint to the police but it declined to entertain it and asked her to resolve the matter through compromise. After insistence, the complaint was received, but the next day the investigating officer Ramesh Kumar approached her again for a compromise. Meanwhile, she allegedly received threatening calls from the respondent to be ready for consequences.

She has submitted that the entire incident has shocked her as the police declined to act. On the other hand, it insisted to close the matter and compromise.

UNI