Vayalar Ravi to pursue Anand Jon's case

New Delhi, Jan 4 - Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said Friday that he would persuade the external affairs ministry to take up the case of Indian fashion designer Anand Jon, who faces sexual impropriety cases in the US.

Jon has been held in detention in Los Angeles since June 2007 after some 30 women in various American cities charged him with rape and molestation.

Speaking to reporters here, Ravi said from the multiplicity of new cases cropping up in New York and Florida it seemed that the designer is being 'framed'.

He said he has asked Jon's family to write another petition for assistance, which he would forward to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Jon's sister, Sanjana, currently in India to lobby support for her brother, claimed that he has been a victim of racism and jealousy.

His family had reportedly approached the minister for help last year after which Ravi had asked Indian diplomats in the US to provide consular help to the fashion designer.


(c) Indo-Asian News Service

Indian support for beleaguered celebrity designer in US

By Ravi S. Jha (Khaleejtimes correspondent)

NEW DELHI — India is petitioning for the release of Indian celebrity designer Anand Jon Abraham from Los Angeles prison, where he is booked for 36-counts of rape, molestation and sexual battery.

New Delhi has taken an exceptional move to come out in support of Jon despite the growing number of charges against Jon.

India’s reaction has come at a time when Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs and senior Congress leader Vayalar Ravi has indicated that Jon could be the ‘victim of racial discrimination’ in the US. If Ravi is to be believed then India is aiming to get Jon out of prison by using diplomatic channels, but so far without success.

It may not be easy to get the 33-year-old model out of prison, as India’s Ministry of External Affairs is cautious not to take up the issue with the US because it is purely an internal judicial matter. But Ravi has officially asked the Indian Ambassador in US, Ronen Sen, for Jon’s release.

Officials admitted on Tuesday that the minister has even written to Indian consul generals in New York and San Francisco to look into the case, and help Jon in any need. There are reports of Ravi also extending help to Jon’s family — mother Shashi Abraham and sister Sanjana Jon.

The minister has attempted to whip up support from the strong non-resident Indian community in the US seeking Jon’s release, though not many have come out to back Jon considering the seriousness of the ‘criminal charges’ against him that even includes a child abuse case.

Top officials in the Ministry of External Affairs here are tightlipped over remarks made by Ravi in support of Jon. Ravi has been quoted as saying: “I have told (Ronen) Sen to do all he can to help them (Jon’s family). I’m glad that consul general in San Francisco B.S. Prakash was very helpful.”

“He sent two officers to meet Jon in prison, and said they would give him all support from the Indian side. The Indian offices will also report to us about what is being done for him. After all, he holds an Indian passport and was doing very well in the US. I won’t be surprised if there was some competition (from Americans),” Ravi said.

The statement is significant considering that Ravi is handling overseas affairs portfolio in Dr Manmohan Singh-led government. His remarks that Jon is a victim of ‘minority discrimination and personal envy’ in the US could be seen as interfering with US’ judicial process, said foreign policy observers.

The charge-sheet against Jon speaks volume of his alleged involvement in various crimes, mostly sexual, against women. Ravi has expressed disbelief about the legitimacy of such charges. He said: “I have heard the case and details of the charge-sheet, and got a feeling that there was something odd."