India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Ravi Thapar has been recalled to New Delhi following allegations that his wife assaulted their cook, who also claimed that he had been kept in “slavery”.
External Affairs Ministry (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Saturday confirmed that the High Commissioner has been “posted back” to New Delhi. Thapar, who was yet to complete his 3-year term, however, claimed he was leaving New Zealand not because of the assault allegations against his wife but since he wanted to take care of his mother living in India.
Thapar termed as “absurd” the allegations against his wife. He said his “50 plus wife with certain medical conditions could not have even conceptualised an assault on a 26-year-old physically able-bodied man”.
The MEA had sent a team to New Zealand to conduct an enquiry and the decision to call back the envoy was based on the enquiry report. Further enquiries will be conducted, the spokesperson said.
The staff member, a chef, alleged that he was assaulted and kept in slavery by Sharmila, Thapar’s wife. He was taken to Wellington police station early last month when he was found wandering in a state of distress after walking around 20 km from the diplomat’s residence. The chef later spent several nights at Wellington Night Shelter.
The MEA spokesperson said the issue was first brought to the Ministry’s notice on May 10 when one of the Service Staff members of the High Commission was found missing. “Though no charges were pressed by the Service Staff member, the Ministry will investigate the matter further,” he said.
He said the High Commission had immediately informed both New Zealand Police and Foreign Office and authorities reverted with the information that the staff member presented himself to the police on May 11 and made certain allegations.
The MEA spokesperson said the Ministry takes all such cases “very seriously” and a team was deputed from MEA headquarters to New Zealand to ascertain the facts and conduct an independent enquiry.
“The team liaised with the New Zealand authorities to resolve the matter. The team also facilitated the return of the Service Staff member who wanted to come back. He returned on May 28,” Swarup said.
New Zealand media said Thapar is set to leave the country on Saturday and a vehicle was seen this morning at his Wellington address. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade MFAT) also said it is aware Thapar is preparing to leave the country.
“MFAT was aware that a staff member raised with New Zealand police concerns about his treatment in the High Commission,” a spokesperson said. “MFAT has advised the individual concerned not to take the matter further. That staff member had independent legal representation and decided to return to India.” However, Thapar asserted, “I’m going but to take care of my mother because my dad passed away last year. I can’t keep up 13,000 kilometres away just talking to her on the phone.”