Nepal Embassy in touch with MEA over Saudi diplomat case

The Nepal Embassy here is in touch with the Indian external affairs ministry and police authorities to seek a detailed report on the alleged rape and gang-rape of two Nepalese women in a Gurgaon flat by a Saudi Arabian diplomat and his friends.

"The Nepal Embassy is in touch with the MEA and local police authorities... we don't know officially whether he (the accused) is a diplomat or not," Nepal Ambassador Deep Upadhyay told the media here on Wednesday. He said a parallel investigation was being conducted in Nepal.

Upadhyay refused to give details, saying the case was still under investigation.

"The (police) investigation is on; local police authorities are framing and establishing the case. Until the police finalise the case, it would not be good to say anything more," Upadhyay said.

"Upon learning of the case from the local police, the Nepal Embassy sought the help of MEA for the rescue (of the two women) and necessary investigation in the case," the Nepali diplomat added.

One of the women rescued in Gurgaon told media that the two of them were regularly beaten and were attacked with a knife. With her face covered, she showed an injury on her forearm saying that's where she was hit with the knife. She also said that security guards of the diplomat had beaten up police personnel when they went to the Gurgaon house.

An unnamed Saudi diplomat, reported to be of First Secretary rank, and some of his friends and guests were booked on charge of rape and gang-rape of two Nepali women, who were rescued on Monday. His wife and daughter were booked for the alleged torture of domestic helps in Gurgaon, Haryana.

Meanwhile, official sources said the external affairs ministry will get into the picture in case the police file charges and need to interrogate the person.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia's Embassy dismissed the charges against the diplomat as "completely false" and "contrary to facts in our possession", and said they would wait for the Indian government to clarify the matter as per the diplomatic norms.

The Gurgaon police have registered cases against the diplomat and "unknown people" on Tuesday at the DLF-2 police station on charges of gang rape (section 376-D), rape (376), unnatural sex (377), and sections 342, 323 and 120-B (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

However, no arrests have been made so far.