Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Ravi Thapar recalled for abusing help

NEW DELHI: India has recalled its high commissioner to New Zealand Ravi Thapar and posted him back to the headquarters after allegations by his domestic help about physical abuse and “slave-like” treatment by his wife. Thapar could face disciplinary actions if found guilty. The ministry of external affairs will launch a probe even though the help did not lodge a formal complaint.

The help, who was a chef at Thapar’s Wellington house, had walked out of the house in a distressed state one night last month. He later went to a local police station and thereafter he stayed at the Wellington Night Shelter for several nights.

The help alleged that he was kept in slavery and was physically assaulted by the envoy’s wife Sharmila Thapar and threatened with assault by Ravi Thapar. But he did not make a formal complaint and returned to India last month after investigations by MEA which had deputed an officer for the purpose.

Thapar denied the allegations, saying his wife was an “experienced diplomatic spouse” incapable of assaulting an “ablebodied man”. “The guy had absolute freedom to walk away and to do whatever...we trusted him,” he told New Zealand Herald.

In 2013, the relationship between the US and India came under strain after diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested over making false statements about the visa application of her maid.