Two weeks after attacking woman, Bahrain diplomat enjoys immunity

Amid the furore over Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade's arrest in the US, a Bahrain diplomat who allegedly attacked a woman a fortnight ago is still roaming free, thanks to the diplomatic immunity he enjoys. Two weeks ago, a complaint was filed against Mohammed Abdul Aziz Al Khaja the Consul General of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Mumbai for attacking a woman. However, cops still have not arrested him.

Mohammed Abdul Aziz Al Khaja, the Consul General of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Mumbai was banging the elevator door in his building when the woman approached him, following which he flew into a fit of rage and attacked her. Pic/Bipin Kokate

According to the police complaint, Khaja had misbehaved with the 49-year-old woman, and even vandalised her office. The complainant, who is the manager of the building in which Khaja lives in, said, "Keeping in mind that the building was over 40 years old, we had recently changed the elevators in the building. On December 9, Khaja was waiting for the lift. Suddenly, I heard a loud banging noise and when I came out to see what had happened, I saw Khaja slamming the door of the lift. I politely asked him not to do so, but he continued."

As per the complaint, Khaja suddenly flew into a fit of rage and attacked the complainant. He also entered her cabin and ransacked the office and flung a book at her. Soon, the cops arrived and recorded the statement of both parties and registered a case against Khaja. Following the complaint, Khaja asked for police protection, saying he had received threats from the complainant.

But the complainant added that Khaja again approached her last Friday and kept calling her. "I was scared and tried ignoring him. Finally, after the chairman and secretary approached him, he left," said the woman, adding that she had approached the Malabar Hill police asking them for protection from Khaja.

"I don't like to keep a security guard outside my office, but I have no option as he might attack me any time," she added. When MiD DAY contacted the authorities, Krishna Prakash, additional commissioner of police (south region), said, "As per the complaint we have registered a case against the diplomat but since he has diplomatic immunities we had not rushed with the arrest."

The other side
When Khaja was contacted, instead of commenting on the allegations, he slammed the phone down without providing any answer.u00a0