The Triangle

Issue date: 8/20/04 Section: News

Adrish Ganguly

The Times of India allegedly made false statements about University student and teaching assistant Adrish Ganguly in its article "'Deserter' son spoils father's case for bail" Aug. 7.

The Times of India reported that Ganguly was married to Tanupriya Guha Roy Dec. 8, 2003 for the purpose of obtaining his U.S. visa. The marriage occurred two years after Ganguly obtained a U.S. visa in Calcutta Feb. 23, 2001, which will not expire until sometime in 2005.

Executive Director for International Students and Scholars Services Kathleen Trayte wrote a letter to the editor of The Times of India, stating that the article "contains many inaccuracies" and the comment about the reason for the marriage "is completely and utterly without basis."

The article also mentions charges filed against Ganguly and his parents by his wife, under Section 498A and 406 of the Indian Penal Code.

According to section 406, "whoever commits criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term, which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both."

Section 498A states that "whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine."

Cruelty in such a case is defined as "(a) any wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or (b) harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand."

Ganguly told The Triangle that Tanupriya's statements and charges were false. He claimed that she had an ulterior motive for the marriage, saying she wanted him to bring her and her family over to America.

"I told her that I could bring her over but not her parents. If I was going to bring anyone's parents over, it would be my own," Ganguly said.

He added that Tanupriya wanted him to help her parents get jobs in America, an action that is illegal given immigration laws. It would also cause Ganguly to lose his student visa status.

"They kept calling me, telling me I was going to fail and that I wouldn't be able to get the 'P' in my Ph.D.," Ganguly said.

Continued...

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