A man in the southern Indian state of Karnataka was questioned by local policemen for purportedly calling Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on her mobile phone, the BBC said in a report on Monday.
However, he was released without charge. A senior police officer rejected reports that the man, identified as Ambaresh, had engaged in lewd or offensive talk. Policemen said they did not even know that the number was Hina Khar’s. The Pakistani Foreign Office had asked India to inquire into the call, which was made two months ago. Ambaresh said he received the shock of his life when police began investigating his background and questioned him about the call made to Hina Khar from his mobile phone.
He works at an exam-coaching institute and said it was possible pranksters had used his phone to call the minister.
Ambresh told reporters that neither had he heard of Hina Rabbani Khar nor did he know Urdu or English to abuse her.
“I don’t know if some student who resides at this centre used my phone,” he said. Officers from the Indian intelligence bureau and the crime branch tracked him down after Islamabad requested an inquiry into the call. “He is clear. There is no case against him,” police officer SB Bisnalli told the BBC. Earlier, a newspaper report said the call had lasted 15 minutes and the caller had abused Hina Khar.
Indian man questioned, cleared over call to Hina Khar
