French rape case: Indian law will prevail, says Krishna

India on Wednesday asserted that law of the land rpt law of the land will prevail in the alleged rape case involving a French consulate official and rejected any scope of 'parallel' investigation in the backdrop of reports that France was doing its own investigation into the case.

"The question of carrying out a parallel investigation does not arise. The law of the land will prevail. He (the French official) has no immunity," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said.

He was asked about the reports that France was on it own investigating the allegations of rape of a three-year-old girl by her father and French consulate official Pascal Mazurier in Bengaluru. Mazurier has been arrested by Bangalore police on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the French Embassy refrained from any comments on the issue involving the arrest of its consular agent in Bengaluru in connection with a rape case.

"We are following the situation regarding one of our employees posted at the consulate general in Bengaluru most attentively," it said in a statement.

"We are in contact with the local authorities. An investigation is underway. We cannot, therefore, comment on it at this stage," the statement said.

The Embassy pointed out that the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963) does not provide for immunity of jurisdiction for acts committed beyond the exercise of consular duties (Article 43).