With confusion prevailing over the next course of action against Pascal Mazurier (39), the Chief of Joint Chancellerie at the French consulate in the city who has been accused of raping his three-year-and-nine-month-old daughter, has now been placed under the supervision of Mr Vincent Caumontat, Deputy Consul, Head of Chancery, Consulate General of France, in Bengaluru.
Sources in the home ministry said: “If the MEA clarifies that Pascal enjoys diplomatic immunity, then the city police will have no role in investigating the case further. Police cannot detain or arrest Mr Pascal though he has been booked for rape as the French authorities will step in. The entire case details will be handed over to them for further probe. It would be the discretion of the French authorities to decide where to hear the matter. If it is heard in a French court, Suja Jones can move that court. But all her three children have French citizenship,” the sources said.
“If the case goes to a court in France, then the baby-sitter Gita Suresh Kumar, whose name is mentioned in the complaint, too may be asked to testify there. Suja, in her statement to the police, has stated that Gita had seen her husband taking the victim into a room and coming out after sometime and heading for work. The baby-sitter had also said she heard the child crying. The pediatrician and the gynecologist who examined the victim may also have to testify in France. Pascal can be imprisoned for a period 10 years there if found guilty,” sources said.
If Pascal does not enjoy diplomatic immunity, then the case will be heard in a city court and he will be arrested soon, the sources added. Meanwhile, Suja Jones Mazurier has sent a requisition through her advocate in Mumbai to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and External Affairs minister S.M. Krishna, requesting that her husband be restrained from leaving the country till legal proceedings are completed and that under no circumstance should he be allowed custody of their children.
She also wanted the French embassy to be directed to help her with legal and financial assistance, as she was currently unemployed and has to take care of the children.