Spain Recalls India Ambassador Amid Corruption Probe
By Business Desk
Spain is replacing its ambassador to India, Juan Antonio March Pujol, due to an anti-corruption investigation into alleged financial misconduct and misuse of funds.
Spain has initiated the process to replace its ambassador to India, Juan Antonio March Pujol, amid an anti-corruption probe into alleged financial improprieties and misuse of public funds. This diplomatic action follows an internal review by Madrid’s Foreign Ministry.
The Allegations Under Scrutiny
The investigation centers on accusations that March Pujol misused embassy funds and corporate connections to sponsor cultural events. He is specifically alleged to have used public money to promote an international singer lacking official ties to Spain.
The inquiry further claims March Pujol arranged a personal deal with BLS, a prominent Indian firm that handles visa processing for the Spanish embassy in New Delhi and other Spanish missions globally. Under this arrangement, BLS purportedly provided a 5,000-euro contribution towards a cultural event organized in Rajasthan.
Diplomatic Background and Investigation Status
The move to replace the ambassador follows a report submitted to the Spanish Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in late May. Attention now focuses on the outcome of this office’s investigation into the financial transactions and administrative conduct at the embassy.
March Pujol, born in February 1958, is a seasoned diplomat. He took up his post as the Spanish envoy in New Delhi in June 2024, having previously served as Spain’s ambassador to Russia from 2007 to 2011. He also held key roles as Spain’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and its representative to the World Trade Organization.
As Madrid proceeds with the replacement of its top diplomat in New Delhi, the ongoing probe by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office will determine the full scope of the alleged financial improprieties.