Wife ‘beaten’ by Indian diplomat immune from prosecution hides in fear

LONDON - The wife of a high-ranking Indian diplomat who was allegedly attacked by her husband at their official London residence a fortnight before Christmas, has gone into hiding with their 5-year-old son in fear of her life.

Paromita Verma has also applied for discretionary leave to remain in Britain on the grounds that there is a threat to both her and her family’s safety if she returns to India.

And her husband Anil has been using his diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested for the alleged attack.

“Throughout their time over here, Anil would boast about his diplomatic immunity and he would tell Paromita that no one could touch him because of it,” the Daily Mail quoted a close family friend as saying on Sunday.

“He would goad her and say, ‘Call the police as many times as you want. I’ve got diplomatic immunity.’ He was shameless with it. He has been given so much power and he is abusing it.

“Paromita has gone into hiding and seriously fears that her safety and health are in jeopardy,” the source added.

Police were called to the family’s home in Golders Green, North-West London, on December 11 after neighbours heard Paromita screaming and saw her run out into the street with blood streaming from her nose. (ANI)