Date:19/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/19/stories/2004121911230800.htm

National

U.S. following arrest of Avnish Bajaj

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 18. The United States Embassy said today that it was following the arrest of Avnish Bajaj, Chief Executive Officer of baazee.com, very closely.

An Embassy spokesperson said that there was a high level of interest in Washington about this case.

"Consistent with normal consular practice, the [court] hearing was attended by a U.S. consular official [today]."

In a related development, official sources said that the U.S. Secretary of State-designate, Condoleezza Rice, had telephoned the U.S. Ambassador in India, David Mulford, about the case.

In turn, Mr. Mulford had taken up the issue with the Government of India at a high level, the sources added. Mr. Bajaj is an American national.