Bangalore:
The official in the French consulate in Bangalore, who was accused of raping his three-and-a-half year-old daughter, was slapped by a bystander when he was produced in the court today, in an obvious display of public rage.
There is growing anger against the official, especially from activists who feel police took too long to arrest him. The official was arrested today, almost four days after his wife, an Indian citizen, registered a complaint alleging he raped their daughter.
She reported the case to the police with the help of a Bangalore-based NGO after her maid told her that her daughter was being sexually abused.
His arrest became imminent after officials in the French government confirmed that the man does not hold a diplomatic passport, which meant he could be arrested and prosecuted in India. The police in Bangalore were also told that the employee did not enjoy any immunity as he had a regular service passport.
The Bangalore Police had said earlier that there was confusion about whether the official is entitled to any sort of immunity because of which they could not arrest him.
On Monday, the French Consulate in Bangalore remained shut. At the gates, there were protests by activists demanding justice.
The official's wife had made an appeal to the Indian government that her husband be tried in India. "The children now need to be taken care of...the mother has gone through some counselling. But we demand from the French government that they provide financial assistance throughout to the family," said Nina Nayak, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.