Indian diplomats in the United Kingdom have racked up a staggering £9.2 million in unpaid parking and congestion charge fines in London, placing India among the top three diplomatic missions with the highest penalties. The figures, released by Transport for London (TfL), reveal a growing issue involving several foreign embassies, including those of Japan and the United States, which have similarly declined to pay these fines.

According to the latest data, London authorities are seeking to recover millions in unpaid charges imposed on foreign diplomatic vehicles that regularly pass through the capital’s Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ). While the standard charge applies to most residents and visitors, many embassies have refused to pay, citing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which provides exemptions from local taxes.

The Indian High Commission, much like the American and Japanese missions, contends that the congestion charge constitutes a tax — and thus falls under the protection of diplomatic immunity. In contrast, the UK government and Transport for London maintain that the charge is a fee for service, not a tax, and therefore not exempt under diplomatic conventions.

The refusal to settle these fines has led to increasing diplomatic tension, especially as London’s mayor and TfL continue to highlight the mounting sums owed. According to TfL, the cumulative unpaid fines from all diplomatic missions have now exceeded £145 million since the congestion charge was introduced in 2003.

A spokesperson for TfL stated:

“Diplomatic missions have a responsibility to respect UK laws and regulations. These unpaid fines could fund vital improvements in London’s transport system.”

The British government has previously appealed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for guidance but has yet to resolve the standoff with the involved nations. Critics argue that diplomatic immunity is being misused, allowing high-ranking officials to evade responsibilities that ordinary citizens cannot avoid.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups and London residents have expressed frustration over the double standard. Many are calling for new agreements or a global framework to better define the limits of diplomatic immunity in the context of environmental and urban regulation compliance.

For now, however, India’s £9.2 million in fines remains unpaid, and the broader issue of how to enforce municipal charges on diplomats continues to challenge city officials and international legal frameworks.