Nepal today said it was in touch with the Indian government regarding the case involving one of Saudi diplomats charged with rape of two Nepalese women and hoped that the issue would be "amicably resolved".
Nepal Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay said External Affairs Ministry was cooperating but maintained that given the "sensitive" nature of the issue, it may take some time to resolve it.
"The investigation is good. Because Gurgaon police has done a very wonderful job and the MEA is also cooperating. And we have very friendly relations with Saudi government also.
"Nepal and Saudi Arabia have good relations that's why we are hopeful that it would be amicably settled and the victims will get justice. It's a sensitive issue that's (why) we are waiting and it may take some time. We are in contact with the Ministry of External Affairs," Upadhyay told PTI on the sidelines of an event here.
His comments came at a time when the Saudis appear to have adopted an approach of stonewalling the government's efforts to get it cooperate in the case. India also seems to be in no hurry to take action against the diplomat without receiving a response from the Saudis.
The impasse following a raid by Gurgaon police at the residence of the diplomat on September 7 after receiving a complaint that the two Nepalese women were kept there in confinement and raped by the diplomat and his "guests" repeatedly, has continued for more than a week now.
There are reports that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has decided to handle the issue amicably as it has a potential to impact the Indo-Saudi relations negatively. However, there was no official confirmation to this effect.
The Saudi Embassy, which has options of either withdrawing the diplomat or waiving his diplomatic immunity to enable prosecution proceedings with latter being very unlikely, has termed the allegations as "false" and said it has protested police "intrusion" into a diplomat's house against "all diplomatic conventions".
It is learnt that the diplomat along with his family has shifted to the Saudi Embassy. The two Nepalese women have already gone back to their country.
