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London, July 24
According to 2016 figures released by Transport for London (TfL), Indian diplomats allegedly owe them over £4.4 million in accumulated unpaid dues since 2003.
The list is topped by the US Embassy in London, which owes over £10 million, followed by Japan, Nigeria and Russia, adding up nearly 97 million pounds in what TfL believes are ‘unpaid fees’ by a majority of diplomatic missions from around the world.
Johnson released the details as part of a written reply in the House of Commons, which includes details of 11 serious offences committed by diplomats of nine missions who have avoided prosecution due to diplomatic immunity. His statement said money owed for cleaning and lighting bills had jumped 22% in 2015, to £907,976.
The Indian High Commission in London has consistently maintained the stance that it does not owe any congestion charge for its vehicles using the zone in London.
The charge, which applies to central London during peak times from Monday to Friday, was introduced in 2003 to alleviate congestion in the heart of London.
“We believe that the congestion charge imposed by the UK authorities is not a service charge but a tax, which should be exempted under the Vienna Convention and therefore the Indian High Commission do not pay the congestion charge," its statement reads. — PTI
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