Cops wait for MEA word on immunity
Even 48 hours after Suja Jones Majurier (37) registered a police complaint accusing her husband Pascal Mazurier (39) of raping her three-year-and-nine-month-old daughter, the case has not gained any momentum. The High Grounds police, with whom the complaint has been filed, are still waiting for certain clarifications from the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to formally arrest Mr Pascal, who works as the chief of joint chancellerie at the French Consulate in Bengaluru.
The MEA, to avoid any diplomatic row, is taking time to clear the air about diplomatic immunity status of the accused. Waiting for the decision, the police has handed over the custody of Pascal to Mr Vincent Caumontat, deputy consul, head of chancery, consulate general of France in Bengaluru.
But Ms Suja Jones is insisting on a trial in India for her husband, even if he enjoys diplomatic immunity. She has sent a letter through her advocate in Mumbai to Union home minister P. Chidambaram and external affairs minister S.M. Krishna asking them to intervene. Ms Suja, who is expecting her fourth child from Mr Pascal, was joined by her twin sister from Bahrain on Saturday.
Additional commissioner of police (law and order) T. Suneel Kumar said: “We are yet to ascertain whether Mr Pascal is a diplomatic agent and enjoys immunity from criminal jurisdiction of the receiving state. We have sought a clarification from the MEA as to how his rank has been categorised. The MEA report is expected to reach the police on Monday.”
Sources in the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights said: “By the time the police receives instructions from the MEA, they would also get Mr Pascal’s medical report.”
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