NORWICH – Recently, an online petition has circulated on the popular national website change.org that calls for a change of venue and release of Town of New Berlin resident Ganesh R. Ramsaran.

Ramsaran, 38, was charged by the Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride for the murder of his wife earlier this year.

Nearly 500 signatures have been posted to the online petition in favor of both changing the trial venue due to an impartial jury pool and releasing Ramsaran from incarceration at the Chenango County Jail based on lack of incriminating physical evidence against him.

Ramsaran was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on May 17, 2013 on $150,000 bail which he posted that day. Ten days later, he was back before the Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr. for a felony indictment at which time Revoir increased Ramsaran's bail to $500,000. During the indictment, McBride argued that Ramsaran should be held without bail as Ramsaran is facing 25 years to life, was born outside the United States, holds an enhanced drivers license and can leave the country at will. Due to the allegations against him, Ramsaran has every reason to leave, said McBride.

According to McBride, the only way that a change in venue can take place is “if the potential jury pool has been exhausted of objective candidates.” McBride also cautioned that it's possible that petition supporters “may not know the circumstances and facts involved in the case against Mr. Ramsaran.”