Canada has raised concerns about several Indian officials, including India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, in relation to ongoing investigations into criminal activities in the country. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed strong objections and is preparing to address these allegations. Both India and Canada have expelled six diplomats each, instructing them to leave their respective countries.
Who is Sanjay Kumar Verma?
Born on July 28, 1965, Sanjay Kumar Verma pursued his education at Patna University before moving on to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, where he earned his postgraduate degree in Physics. He is married to Gunjan Verma, and the couple has a son and a daughter. According to the Indian government’s official website, Verma has a deep interest in Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and cyber diplomacy.
Verma joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1988 and has served in various countries, including Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Turkey, and Milan (Italy). He also held the position of Indian Ambassador to Sudan. Before taking up his current post in Canada, Verma served as India’s Ambassador to Japan and the Marshall Islands. He has also held senior roles within India’s Ministry of External Affairs, including as Joint Secretary and later Additional Secretary.
India’s Strong Response
India has dismissed the allegations against High Commissioner Verma as “fabricated” and “ridiculous,” attributing them to the political agenda of the Canadian government, particularly focusing on vote-bank politics.
In an official statement, India’s MEA said it received a diplomatic note from Canada, claiming that Verma and other Indian diplomats were “monitoring” an ongoing investigation in Canada. The MEA emphasized that India has no faith in the current Canadian government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its diplomats. Consequently, India has decided to recall High Commissioner Verma and the other targeted officials.
This development comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations, as both have now expelled six diplomats each.