The British foreign office had warned the Indian high commission that if its request for waiver of diplomatic immunity in the case of senior diplomat Anil Verma, accused of allegedly assaulting his wife, was not honoured then it would request for immediate withdrawal of Mr Verma and family from the United Kingdom.
“On 13 January 2011, FCO wrote to the high commission requesting for waiver of Mr Verma’s diplomatic immunity. The note further stated that failure to waive Mr Verma’s immunity will result in an immediate request for Mr Verma and his dependants to be withdrawn from the UK,” the Indian high commission said in a detailed account of the Verma incident that has caused major embarrassment for India.
The Indian high commission officials had met the FCO’s protocol directorate officials on 10 January at the request of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to discuss the case.
The Indian high commission informed the FCO through a Note Verbale that a decision has been taken by the government of India to transfer Mr Verma and his family to India and the British foreign ministry has acknowledged the receipt of the note.
“In a Note Verbale sent to the Indian high commission on January 18 we have acknowledged the Indian government’s decision to transfer Mr Verma back to Delhi and noted that Mr Verma and his dependants are required to leave the UK,” the British foreign office said.
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MEA to take action against diplomat
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
Jan. 19: Reacting the day after media reports began appearing about an Indian diplomat being accused of misbehaving with a co-passenger on board an Air India flight to New York, an external affairs ministry spokesman said action would be taken against the official upon his return home. “Ministry is aware of the unfortunate incident. The matter was looked into immediately. The officer since stands transferred back to headquarters. Necessary follow up action will be taken once he is back in New Delhi,” the spokesman said. The diplomat, Alok Ranjan Jha, is a 2002 IFS officer.