Diplomat's parents claim he is 'innocent'

Claiming that he is "innocent", parents of Indian diplomat Anil Verma, who has been transferred back to India from London following allegations of wife-beating, sought a transparent probe into the charges against their son.

Verma's parents Ayodhya and Premlata Verma, who live in Varanasi, told news channels that his marriage to Indian Railways Service officer Paromita was an unhappy one. Both his father and mother levelled allegations against Paromita, claiming that their son was innocent.

The diplomat has been in the eye of a storm ever since Paromita was found screaming by neighbours outside their London

residence with blood streaming from her nose. Verma has asked the UK government to produce his wife, who has gone into hiding along with their five-year-old son, insisting he will return to India with them.

Verma, Minister (economic) and the third senior-most officer in the Indian High Commission, has been transferred back and the External Affairs Ministry today said that it has taken a serious view of the matter which will be "thoroughly investigated and acted upon appropriately".

British police rushed to his residence following the complaint of domestic violence but Verma cited diplomatic immunity and escaped action.