No immunity for ‘rapist’: MEA
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The ministry of external affairs has said Mr Pascal Mezurier, a French diplomat accused of raping his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter in Bengaluru, does not enjoy diplomatic immunity. It said the French official carries a service and not a diplomatic passport and the question of diplomatic immunity does not arise. This is a clear indication that Mr Mezurier, Deputy Head of Chancery in the Consulate of France in Bengaluru, can be prosecuted for offences in India, official sources said. But the city police said the external affairs ministry’s communication is yet to reach them.
“Till Saturday evening, there was no word from the MEA. The city police had sought a clarification on the diplomatic immunity of the French national. The investigation in the case is going on and the question of his arrest will be answered when the police receive communication from the MEA,” state DGP Lalrokhuma Pachau said. Mr Mazurier’s Indian wife, Suja Jones, had filed a complaint on Thursday that he raped their child. While the police registered a case and questioned him, they did not arrest him as they were not sure of his diplomatic status.
Ms Suja Jones is likely to move court, seeking a direction to the police to collect Mr Mazurier’s DNA sample. Ms Pramila Nesargi, senior advocate, said that an application will be filed seeking direction to the police to collect Mr Mezurier’s DNA samples in the presence of the complainant. Ms Nesargi said that the city police have taken magistrate’s permission to collect the DNA samples.
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