New Delhi, August 10, 2026, 04:25 AM IST
Spanish Ambassador to India, Juan Antonio March Pujol, has dismissed allegations of financial irregularities as a “misunderstanding,” stating that no expenditure was incurred by the Spanish embassy. The Ambassador, currently on holiday in Europe, confirmed to The Indian Express that he will be leaving his posting due to “personal health issues,” and not in connection with the allegations.
March’s comments follow reports from Indian government sources on Saturday, indicating that he was being recalled by the Spanish government over alleged financial irregularities. A new envoy is expected to replace him in the coming weeks. Spanish media outlet, The Objective, reported that the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office received a report in late May from a Foreign Ministry official detailing “financial misconduct,” which initiated the process to replace March. He had presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu in July 2024.
“There was no expenditure, there was no event, and this was already answered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Parliament…so all this is a kind of misunderstanding,” March told The Indian Express. He explained that discussions had taken place regarding potential additional events for the Spain-India Dual Year 2026, with proposed support from enterprises, a common practice in many countries. However, he clarified, “when we were preparing something, it was decided not to go ahead, so we didn’t make anything, and there was no expenditure. So, …nobody received any funding from any private company for doing any kind of cultural event.”
The Objective’s report detailed events in February involving an Indian dance company and Spanish and Chinese singers in Rajasthan, allegedly organized at March’s initiative to mark the 70th anniversary of India-Spain diplomatic relations. These events reportedly lacked Madrid’s approval and were vetoed by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) following a report from the cultural attachĂ© of the Spanish embassy.
According to the Spanish media outlet, a Chinese singer received €18,000 from the Spanish embassy in 2025 for concerts organized by the Ambassador. For 2026, March reportedly planned more performances for €14,000, with costs intended to be covered by companies and the Rajasthan government, without informing the Spanish ministry. It is further alleged that these proposed sponsorships were to be paid directly to the organizing group, bypassing embassy accounts.
Addressing his recall and replacement, the Spanish envoy stated, “Well, that is correct, but because of health issues, not because of any allegation. I have to follow a treatment, and it’s not good for me to follow in India. I prefer to be with the family and to be with doctors that have always been with me. So it’s only a personal thing. It’s not anything connected with this kind of thing that was discussed in the month of February or March.” March went on holiday on July 30 and expects to return by the end of August, after which he will relinquish his post in Delhi.
