BANGALORE: French diplomat Pascal Mazurier, charged with allegedly raping his four-year-old daughter, could be arrested as soon as the Ministry of External Affairs clears his arrest.
With France refusing to interfere in the case saying that since the accused does not enjoy diplomatic immunity, Indian law will take its own course.
Earlier, the Bangalore police said that there were confused if the official was entitled to immunity and hence they could not arrest the accused.
Mazurier, the deputy head of the French consulate in Bangalore, based on preliminary findings that confirmed signs of sexual assault on the toddler.
Meanwhile, a flummoxed Bangalore police is awaiting directions from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Karnataka government on how to proceed in the case.
The police, as of now, have registered a case against 39-year-old Mazurier after a complaint by his wife Suja Jones, an Indian citizen. MEA officials in New Delhi are examining Mazurier's documents to ascertain if he is entitled to diplomatic immunity.
The 39-year-old was, however, released into the custody of the head of chancery at the consulate, Vincent Coumontant, after the official gave in writing that Mazurier would be presented whenever required and wouldn't be allowed to leave the city.
Police sources said Suja, who is from Ernakulam, Kerala, had met a counsellor as a victim of domestic violence. It was during one such counselling session that she spoke about her husband's behaviour with the child.
Egged on by the counsellor, the 37-year-old took the child to Baptist Hospital on June 6. On the hospital finding that it was a case of sexual assault, she approached the police on Thursday night, though it is not clear why she took so long to file the complaint.
The mother and child were sent to the state-run Bowring Hospital on Sunday. Mazurier was also taken for medical examinations. The hospital on Monday sent its findings and the child's clothes for forensic tests.
The police sources said they might have to go for a DNA test. "We have to wait for the test reports to decide the next course of action," deputy commissioner Gowda said.
