Saudi diplomat accused of rape leaves India

A Saudi diplomat accused of raping two Nepali women hired to work as domestic help has left India under diplomatic immunity, the foreign ministry says.

The women, aged 30 and 50, said they were starved and sexually abused by him and other Saudi nationals.

Saudi Arabia denies all the charges and refused to revoke diplomatic immunity for the official, making it impossible for him to be tried in India.

Analysts say his departure resolves a diplomatic dilemma for India.

Nepal and India have close diplomatic relations, but India is also eager to avoid tensions with oil-rich Saudi Arabia where millions of Indians live and work.

On Wednesday night, foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup issued a statement saying First Secretary Majed Hassan Ashoor "who is allegedly accused of abusing two Nepali maids has left India".

He added that the official was protected under the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations.

Police in India had earlier registered a case of rape, sodomy and illegal confinement against the official, without naming him.