Saudi diplomat accused in Gurgaon rape case has left India, says MEA

New Delhi: The Saudi Arabian diplomat, who was charged with confinement and rape of two Nepalese women, left India on Wednesday night. “We have learnt that the first secretary Majed Hassan Ashoor who was allegedly accused of raping two Nepalese women has left India,” spokesperson in External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said. “The first secretary being a diplomat is governed by the provision of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations,” Swarup added. [caption id=“attachment_2427602” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The two Nepali girls rescued from the Gurgaon residence of a Saudi diplomat. IBNLive[/caption] It is learnt that the MEA had put pressure on the Saudi Embassy to allow the questioning of the diplomat given the gravity of the allegations in the case involving confinement and rape of the two women, following which Saudi Arabia decided to withdraw the diplomat. On 7 September, Gurgaon Police had conducted a raid at the diplomat’s residence after receiving a complaint that the two Nepalese women were kept there in confinement and raped by the diplomat and his “guests” repeatedly. The Saudi Embassy termed the allegations as “false” and protested the police “intrusion” into the diplomat’s house saying it was against “all diplomatic conventions”. The External Affairs Ministry had called in Saudi Arabian Ambassador Saud Mohammed Alsati last Thursday and told him that the accused diplomat should cooperate in the probe into the case. But it did not get any response despite being in touch with the mission officials in New Delhi for at least a week, sources said. During the impasse, the diplomat along with his family has shifted to the Saudi Embassy. The two Nepalese women have already gone back to their country. There were also reports that NSA Ajit Doval had a hand in resolving the issue without damaging the bilateral ties. PTI