Indian envoy to Austria, Renu Pall, has been recalled to headquarters on charges of misuse of government money and financial irregularities.

A 1988 batch IFS officer, Pall was one month short of completing her tenure in Vienna but has been asked to return by December 30, 2019.

A note of the Ministry of External Affairs said that the findings of the investigations carried out by the ministry’s Chief Vigilance Officer in its prima facile report confirmed financial irregularities, misappropriation of funds and breach of conduct rules.

The inquiry was ordered by the Central Vigilance Commission following which a team from Ministry led by the Chief Vigilance Officer had visited the Embassy of India, Vienna in the month of September 2019 to inquire into the matter.

The note says that the allegations against the Ambassador are of misusing funds to the tune of crores of rupees without permission of the ministry.

She also will have to face charges of fraud for claiming fake VAT refunds, misrepresentation of facts on permissions taken from the ministry, as also of hiring a transit accommodation for an exorbitant rent of Rs.15 lakhs a month.

She was transferred to the headquarters on December 9, 2019, after the inquiry confirmed charges of misappropriation of funds and financial impropriety. She was also restrained from exercising any administrative or financial powers as the Ambassador from the time her transfer was ordered.