India recalled its top diplomat in New Zealand on Saturday following allegations that his wife had assaulted a kitchen staff member who apparently told the police that he was “kept in slavery”.Read more: Raina, Ashwin & Bravo new victims of Lalit Gate
High commissioner Ravi Thapar denied the allegations and told a newspaper in Wellington that he was returning to India to take care of his mother.
"I'm going but to take care of my mum because my dad passed away last year. I can't keep up 13,000km away just talking to her on the phone," New Zealand Herald quoted him.
Read this: Microsoft updates Skype Qik messaging app
According to New Zealand media reports the victim, who worked as a chef, had told Wellington Police that Thapar's wife "had kept him in slavery". Thapar and his wife have both denied the charges. The diplomat told the publication his wife was an "experienced diplomatic spouse" incapable of assaulting an "able-bodied man".
"The guy had absolute freedom to walk away and to do whatever ... we trusted him," he said, adding that the staff had tried to "concoct'' a story and that he may have been in touch with his "external collaborators'' when he left his home.
MEA officials said the ministry first came to know of the incident on May 10 when the employee went missing from the high commission. The matter was immediately reported to the local police and the foreign office in Wellington.
Also Read: Reliance purchases Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard for Mukesh Ambani
New Zealand media said Thapar was set to leave the country on Saturday. The country's ministry of foreign affairs and trade (MFAT) did not try to prevent Thapar from leaving the country.
"MFAT was aware a staff member raised with New Zealand police concerns about his treatment in the high commission," a spokesman said.
"MFAT has been advised the individual concerned elected not to take the matter further. That staff member had independent legal representation and decided to return to India."
No comments:
Post a Comment