NEW DELHI: The French government on Monday said it would not interfere in a rape case in India involving a government official at its consulate in Bangalore. The Embassy in New Delhi said that it would allow Indian law to “take its course” as the man accused does not have diplomatic immunity. Police in Bangalore officially charged Pascal Mazurier, an official at the French consulate, with rape. “An investigation is under way for which this consulate general is extending its full cooperation with the police and the authorities in charge in the matter,” a statement issued by the consulate-general of France said. It said the consulate-general has been informed about the complaint lodged regarding the rape of a minor girl who is a French national. “The complaint names the father of the child, who is a consular agent of this consulate-general,” it added. In response, a group of social activists held protests outside the French consulate demanding the arrest of the accused. Police said 30 activists belonging to an NGO, who were staging a protest in front of the consulate-general of France here demanding arrest of the diplomat, were detained on Monday. Holding placards and chanting slogans against the police for their “inaction”, the Action Aid Group activists demanded that the diplomat be immediately arrested. The case has sparked outrage and anti-French sentiments in Bangalore over the reported rape of the minor girl by the French government official.
