MEA seeks cooperation from Saudi Embassy in alleged rape case

India on Thursday asked Saudi Arabia to cooperate in the investigation against its Delhi-based diplomat, who has been accused of rape and torture by two Nepalese women working at his house in Gurgaon on the outskirts of the national capital.

Saudi Ambassador Saud Mohammed Alsati was called in by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and told that the Haryana police was seeking cooperation in the case, a day after the ministry received a report about the case from police.

“MEA chief of protocol called in Saudi Ambassador today (on Thursday) and conveyed request of Haryana Police for cooperation of embassy in the case of 2 Nepali citizens,” spokesperson in the MEA, Vikas Swarup, said.

Gurgaon Police last night had sent a “detailed” report to the ministry on their investigation into the case. The report was sent hours after a second medical examination of the two women confirmed rape and sodomy, said Rajesh Chechi, assisstance commissioner of police (Crime) of Gurgaon Police.

The Saudi Embassy had issued a statement on Wednesday terming the allegations “false” and said it had protested the police “intrusion” into a diplomat’s house against “all diplomatic conventions”.

The Saudi ambassador, along with some embassy officials, had also met senior MEA officials on Wednesday to register their protest.

Meanwhile a group of women rights activists held a protest outside Saudi Embassy demanding action against the diplomat.

They demanded that no diplomatic immunity be extended to him.