3 min learnNew DelhiUp to date: Aug 9, 2026 06:09 AM IST
Spanish ambassador to India, Juan Antonio March Pujol, is being recalled by the Spanish authorities over alleged monetary irregularities, and a brand new envoy is anticipated to interchange him within the subsequent few weeks, sources within the Indian authorities have confirmed to The Indian Specific.
Sources stated that March has left the nation and can be quickly changed by a senior profession diplomat from the Spanish Overseas Ministry.
Spanish media outlet, the Goal, reported that the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Workplace acquired a report in late Might from a Overseas Ministry official concerning the alleged monetary misconduct. That prompted the method to interchange envoy March, who had offered his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu in July 2024.
In response to the Goal, in February this yr occasions involving an Indian dance firm, Spanish and Chinese language singers had been organised in Rajasthan reportedly at March’s initiative to mark seventieth anniversary of India-Spain diplomatic relations, however with out Madrid’s approval.
The Spanish Company for Worldwide Improvement Cooperation (AECID) vetoed them after a report from the cultural attaché of the Spanish embassy.
In response to the Spanish media outlet, the Chinese language singer acquired Euros 18,000 from the Spanish embassy in 2025 for concert events organised by the Spanish ambassador. For 2026, the Spanish envoy deliberate extra performances for Euros 14,000 with prices to be lined by firms and the Rajasthan authorities, with out informing the Spanish Overseas ministry.
In response to Goal, the ambassador initially sought Euros 40,500 from Spanish firms and the Rajasthan authorities to pay the three artists. It’s alleged that the proposed sponsorships had been to be paid on to the organising group, slightly than via embassy accounts. The Spanish embassy’s cultural attaché reported that the Spanish envoy instructed him to not enter the actions within the inside accounting system — a step obligatory for embassy cultural occasions.
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It’s alleged that the Spanish envoy additionally independently negotiated a 5,000-Euros contribution from an Indian firm. He allegedly instructed the cultural attaché to rearrange worldwide flights for the Chinese language and the Spanish singers via that firm. The attaché reported that AECID had no file of the exercise and that established procedures weren’t being adopted.
The Indian Specific reached out to the Spanish embassy for remark from the Spanish ambassador on the problem, however there was no response to date.
Earlier than his appointment as Spain’s ambassador to India, March was the President of Fundación Onuart, an organisation specialising on the worth and optimistic affect of artwork on worldwide relations. March had earlier been posted on the UN in Geneva (2004-07), WTO (2004-07), and in Russia (2007-11) and Armenia (2009-11), amongst others.
