Fearing action, 'wife-beater' diplomat seeks patch-up

LONDON: Fearing administrative action and possible loss of job, the Indian diplomat in London docked for domestic violence told TOI on Tuesday he wants to patch-up with his wife.

Anil Verma, the third-ranking official in the high commission, said, "I am willing to work it out. I want to patch up." He said he is texting messages to his wife Paromita Verma ever since she left their London home without telling him, but she isn't responding. The two had had a fight early in December and he allegedly hit her, causing a nose-bleed. Verma, an IAS officer, has been recalled by the Indian government and is expected to report to New Delhi this weekend.

"The high commission has been informed that a decision has been taken by the government to transfer Mr Anil Verma and his family to India at the earliest," said a high commission spokesman, and added, somewhat cryptically, "The high commission further sought assistance of UK's Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) to facilitate their early return."

This remark puts the onus on the FCO to ensure that not only Verma, but his wife, children and other dependents (stepson, mother-in-law and maid), in UK on diplomatic passports, return to India concurrently.

Paromita Verma has applied to the British government for "leave of indefinite stay" in the UK on grounds that her life would be in danger if she is sent to India. However, if Paromita — Verma is her second husband — doesn't return to India with him, she is likely to lose her diplomatic passport and not be issued an ordinary passport. She will then become stateless unless British authorities come to her rescue.

Paromita's employment with the Indian Railways — from where she in on two-year study leave — could also be in jeopardy. She is said to visit Chiltern Railways one or twice a month as part of her studies.

The FCO has not responded to the high commission and there is no indication which way the British home ministry will go on Paromita's representation.

After the police got involved, the FCO last month wrote to the high commission asking it to either waive Verma's diplomatic immunity or withdraw the Verma family from UK.