Sun Aug 03 01:13:05 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article:

**Summary:**

Despite recently concluding a major trade deal, India’s diplomatic mission in London has accumulated significant unpaid fees and penalties, primarily the congestion charge, totaling nearly £10 million. The UK government insists this charge is for a service and not a tax, arguing diplomats are not exempt. India, along with the US and Japan, considers it a tax and thus claims diplomatic immunity. India also has smaller outstanding debts for property taxes (NNDR) and parking fines. While these debts have been raised, they haven’t derailed the overall trade relationship.

**News Article:**

**India’s Diplomatic Mission in London Racks Up Millions in Unpaid Congestion Fees**

**LONDON -** While celebrating a new Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and India, a significant point of contention remains: unpaid congestion fees. Indian diplomatic vehicles have amassed nearly £10 million (₹115.8 crore) in unpaid congestion charges in London, along with smaller outstanding debts for property taxes and parking violations.

The Congestion Charge, a £15 daily fee for driving in certain parts of London, is the primary source of the debt. Transport for London (TfL) maintains the fee is a service charge, not a tax, and thus not subject to diplomatic immunity. A letter from TfL chief Alex Williams to Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami emphasized that there were no legal grounds for exemption.

India, however, disagrees, asserting that the charge functions as a tax, protected under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The US and Japan have also taken a similar position.

“We have been clear that the Congestion Charge is a charge for a service and not a form of tax that diplomats are exempt from paying,” Williams wrote.

In addition to the congestion charge, India owes approximately £99,385 in National Non-Domestic Rates (property taxes) and £13,964 in parking fines.

While the unpaid fees have been addressed through diplomatic channels, they did not stop the recent trade negotiations. Despite this success, resolution of the outstanding debts remains a point of contention between the two nations.

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