The envoy said he was not leaving because of the assault allegations but because he wanted to take care of his mother living in India. High Commissioner Ravi Thapar said this to reporters in Wellington on Saturday.
Thapar’s wife Sharmila has been accused of physically assaulting a domestic help, the chef, at their residence. He denied the allegations and said his wife was an “experienced diplomatic spouse” incapable of assaulting an “able-bodied man”.
“I’m going but to take care of my mum because my dad passed away last year. I cannot keep up 13,000 km away just talking to her on the phone,” The New Zealand Herald quoted Thapar as saying.
According to reports, in May, the staff member was found wandering the streets in a distressed state after walking nearly 20 km from the Indian High Commission. He was taken to a police station by a member of the public. The man ended up staying several nights at the Wellington Night Shelter. The man spoke to police through an interpreter and alleged that he was physically assaulted by Thapar’s wife.
Fairfax Media reported that the man alleged he was kept in slavery and was threatened with assault by the envoy. The staff member lived in the envoy’s official residence. Police said the domestic help did not want to take the matter further and wanted to go home. The staff member left New Zealand on May 28.
In New Delhi, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the matter was brought to the ministry’s notice when the service staff member was found missing. Swarup said the High Commission immediately informed both New Zealand Police and the Foreign Office.
“The New Zealand authorities then informed that the service staff member had presented himself to the New Zealand Police on May 11, 2015 and made certain allegations.” He said the ministry “takes all such cases very seriously”. A team was deputed to New Zealand to conduct an independent inquiry. The team liaised with the New Zealand authorities to resolve the matter. The team also helped in the return of the service staff member who wanted to return to India.
“Though no charges were pressed by the service staff member, the ministry will investigate the matter further. The High Commissioner has been posted back to headquarters,” the spokesperson said. According to media reports, a moving van was stationed at Thapar’s $1.1 million Lower Hutt residence on Saturday morning. Both Thapar and his wife declined to be interviewed by police and have barred other members of the mission from speaking to the authorities.