Father of murdered student wanted best for his son

Subhash Bidve called for justice for his son Anuj Bidve outside Parliament after meeting with Home Affairs Select Committee chairman Keith Vaz.

Mr Bidve, together with Anuj’s mother Yogini and brother-in-law Rakesh Sonawane, met with Mr Vaz for about 35 minutes after flying into the UK yesterday.

The family is due to return to India with Anuj’s body tomorrow.

Kiaran Stapleton, 20, of Ordsall, was charged with his murder.

Mr Bidve said: “It was really unfortunate that I lost my son. But I feel myself as a father this should not happen again because a lot of Indian students come here for their education and they go back to their own countries.

“I humbly request to you all kindly do justice for Anuj and kindly make sure that students who come here for their studies, they have their own studies and go back to their own countries.

“He studied engineering in India in an inner city. He was a very brilliant student and he was working on some core engineering, like in micro-electronic chips engineering.

“He was working on his really special projects and he was very happy staying here and doing his work. He was a very great asset not just to India but the whole globe, that was the kind of work he was doing.

“I wanted to give him the best. As a father that’s what I wanted.”

Mr Vaz said he had passed on his condolences to the family during the meeting and updated them on contact he had received from wellwishers since the killing on Boxing Day.

He said: “Many people have contacted me who wish to acknowledge the memory of Anuj and express their sadness as to what has happened.”