Indian diplomat recalled after Air India flight incident

The external affairs ministry has recalled Indian diplomat Alok Ranjan Jha for allegedly misbehaving with a passenger on an Air India flight to New York and will decide on disciplinary action after he returns home.

“He has been recalled. The ministry will take action after an internal inquiry,” an informed source in the ministry said in Delhi Wednesday.

Jha, a 2002 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and first secretary in the permanent mission in New York, has been transferred to Delhi following the incident Jan 7, sources said.

His recall comes close on the heels of Anil Verma, the third-ranking diplomat at the Indian High Commission in London, being recalled following charges of wife-beating.

Ashok Tomar, additional secretary in charge of administration in the ministry, deals with cases of inappropriate behaviour by IFS officers.

In the US, an Indian diplomat told IANS: “We have been told that there are reports appearing on Indian television regarding transfer of Mr Alok Jha to Delhi.”

“Matters regarding an incident involving him at JFK airport were promptly reported to the ministry of external affairs, which is now seized of the matter and has transferred the officer to New Delhi,” he said, without giving details. He did not wish to be named, citing ministry rules.

The diplomat was transferred after he allegedly misbehaved with Air India flight attendants on a flight to New York Jan 7. There was however no confirmation of this incident.

Jha topped the all-India civil services exams in 2002 and had opted for the IFS as his first choice.

Last week, the external affairs ministry decided to transfer back to India Anil Verma, minister (economic) and third-ranking diplomat in the Indian high commission in London, following allegations of assaulting his wife.