Even as New Delhi grapples with the issue of alleged assault by its London-based diplomat Anil Verma, India has now transferred yet another diplomat, Alok Ranjan Jha, working with the U.N. Mission in the United States, back here.
Close on the heels of Mr. Verma getting transfer orders, sources in the Ministry of External Affairs said Mr. Jha faced a similar plight following reports of misbehaviour on a flight to New York. Mr. Jha topped the 2002 batch of the Civil Service.
Earlier, the Ministry said it had taken a serious view of the reports from London that Mr. Verma allegedly assaulted his wife last month but emphasised that it would enquire into the matter and act against the diplomat under Indian laws. MEA spokesman Vishnu Prakash said the Ministry was not condoning domestic violence, which, he said, was “totally unacceptable.”
On Mr. Verma's return, the matter would be investigated and acted upon appropriately. “Laws of the land will take care of any acts that need to be acted on, consequent to the inquiry,” Mr. Prakash said at a briefing. Meanwhile, reports from the U.S. said that soon after reports of Mr. Jha's misbehaviour at New York's John F Kennedy airport, the Ministry was informed. Sources in the Ministry here said that since the diplomat had been transferred to Delhi, follow-up action would be taken here.
