Spain replaces ambassador to India Juan Antonio March Pujol over financial favor allegations

New Delhi: Spain has initiated a process to replace its ambassador to India Juan Antonio March Pujol over allegations of taking financial favours from an Indian firm and promoting cultural events using public funds.

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This move comes after the Spanish Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office received a report in late May from the country's Foreign Ministry, according to Spanish digital media 'The Objective'. The senior diplomat was allegedly promoting a singer for events in India with government funds, according to The Objective. It is alleged that the envoy was using Embassy funds and seeking support from various business quarters to promote international singers with no relations with Spain. March also allegedly struck a personal deal with Indian visa processing firm BLS for a 5,000-euro contribution to the cultural event in Rajasthan, according to 'The Objective'. BLS is responsible for outsourcing visa processing for the Spanish embassy in India, as well as for other Spanish embassies worldwide.