French official in India accused of child rape

NEW DELHI - The Associated Press

A French national casts her vote at a polling booth at the French Embassy, during the first round of the French elections in New Delhi, India, Sunday, April 22, 2012. AP photo

Indian police detained a French consular official on Tuesday after his wife accused him of raping their 3-year-old daughter.

Bangalore Police Commissioner Jyothi Prakash Mirji said the Frenchman was taken into custody and escorted to a hospital for undisclosed medical tests.
 
"The investigation is going on. We have seized his passport," he said.
 
Mirji said the detention was based on a police complaint filed by his Indian wife last week accusing the man of raping their daughter. The wife declined to comment while the case was pending.
 
The man was to appear later Tuesday in court, where a judge was expected to order that he remain in custody while authorities investigate.
 
The French Embassy in Delhi confirmed that the man was an employee at the Bangalore consulate and said it could not comment on the case while an investigation is under way. It said international law does not provide for immunity for acts committed outside the exercise of consular duties.
 
In Paris, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero declined to identify the man but said he was primarily involved in administrative work at the consulate.
 
"We have to let police and the justice system do their job," Valero said. "We have to wait for the results of the investigation."