NEW DELHI, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- A senior lady diplomat belonging to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) has been recalled from Austria after being found guilty of corruption, particularly misusing large amounts of government funds.
According to media reports, the lady diplomat identified as Renu Pall was posted as India's ambassador in Vienna and has been asked to return to India by Dec. 30.
A 1988 batch IFS officer, Renu has been recalled to headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs on charges of "misuse of government money and financial irregularities."
A Ministry of External Affairs' note said the investigations carried out by the Ministry's Chief Vigilance Officer in its prima facile report confirmed financial irregularities, misappropriation of funds and breach of conduct rules by the lady envoy.
The inquiry was ordered by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) following which a team from Ministry led by the Chief Vigilance Officer had visited the Indian embassy in Vienna in September 2019 to inquire into the matter.
The ministry's note said the allegations against the ambassador were misusing funds to the tune of millions of Indian rupees without permission of the ministry.
She also will have to face charges of fraud for claiming fake Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds, misrepresentation of facts on permissions taken from the ministry, as also of hiring a transit accommodation for an exorbitant rent of 1.5 million Indian rupees (21,500 U.S. dollars) a month.
