'They Are Being Investigated For Selling Mobile Phone Cards'

Navtej Sarna: Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen.

I thought I would give you an update on Madrid. I suppose most of you know what happened looking at today’snewspapers. Evidently, the arrests took place at a downtown suburb outside Madrid called Lava Pias. From whatI understand, the two Indians are being questioned by Spanish authorities for their alleged involvement inselling mobile phone cards.

I can add a general statement that we would like to express solidarity with the investigation. The Governmentof India and the India Diaspora in Spain, which is a law-abiding and prosperous community, disapproves ofillegal immigration and underlines the importance of all Indians in Spain respecting the law of the land. Asyou know condolence messages have already been sent by Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister totheir counterparts.

Where are they from, do you have more details?

Navtej Sarna: I know the names - Vinay Kohly and Suresh Kumar but we have asked the Spanishauthorities to give us more details, passport details etc.

Were there four Indians or two?

From what I understand, three Moroccans have been arrested and twoIndians. What is understand from the media reports is that there were two Spanish nationals of Indian originwho were questioned and released.

They have not been picked up for selling…they have been arrested and are being questioned in connection withthe possible involvement in this. We would not like to come to a judgment yet. They have been detained forquestioning.

Have we asked for consular access?

Our Embassy is in touch with the Spanish authorities and has askedfor details. Once we have the details and we know that they are definitely Indian citizens, then there may berequest for consular access. This is the normal practice.

What was the level of consular access that India had asked for after the arrests of two Indians after WorldTrade Centre attacks?

I would not like to draw unnecessary parallels. I do not have thefacts in that case at my command but I want to underline that in the present case, they are being investigatedfor selling mobile phone cards.