Indian Consul told to step down

SYDNEY, OCT. 30. The Honorary Consul of India in Brisbane, Mr. Parsram Punj, who is facing trial for attempted perversion of justice and forgery, has been asked to step down.

``Mr. Punj is stepping down from the post with immediate effect till the period of the court case and the announcement of the final verdict. Depending upon the verdict, a decision will be taken whether he should be allowed to continue as the Honorary Consul,'' the Indian High Commissioner in Australia, Mr. R.S. Rathore, said. ``The Australian Foreign Office has been suitably informed,'' he added.

It is alleged that Mr. Punj, a grain exporter, falsified a pest clearance document to allow 851 bags of alfalfa to be sent to Argentina. He is also alleged to have attempted to get an employee to take the blame for the forged document. Mr. Punj is undergoing trial for attempted perversion of justice and forgery of Commonwealth documents, at the Queensland District Criminal Court in Brisbane. During the first trial in June, Mr. Punj's daughter, Ms. Anita Aggarwal, a co-accused, was indicted for perversion of Commonwealth Act and sentenced to four months' imprisonment. She appealed against the sentence.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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