Necessary action after New York-posted diplomat’s return: MEA

Terming as “unfortunate” the incident involving diplomat Alok Ranjan Jha, accused of misbehaving with a co-passenger on board an Air India flight, Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said necessary follow up action will be taken after his return.

“The 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,” an official spokesperson said.

Mr. Jha, a 2002 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and first secretary in the permanent mission in New York, has been transferred to Delhi following the incident on January 7.

He had topped the all-India civil services exams in 2002 and had opted for the IFS as his first choice.

Mr. Jha is the second diplomat after London-based Anil Verma, accused of beating his wife, to be transferred back to India in less than a week’s time.