From correspondents in Delhi, India, 12:46 AM IST

New Delhi - Harish Kumar Dogra, who had defied his recall as India's envoy in New Zealand and was later removed, has quietly returned home after nearly four months and now faces a probe into his conduct.

Dogra has been promptly slapped with a notice asking him to explain why action should not be taken against him for speaking in public about his recall and making disparaging remarks against Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.

Dogra had been recalled after he failed to explain why the government had received many complaints about his performance in Auckland.

After his removal, an unprecedented development in the foreign office, Dogra had issued angry statements and had sought a permanent visa to stay on in New Zealand. But Wellington, after allowing him two weeks' stay, did not renew his visa.

Dogra is a secretary-rank career diplomat who developed differences with Saran.

Official sources said he returned last week - more than two months after his accreditation as envoy to Wellington was withdrawn.

Soon after his return along with his wife Neeta, the external affairs ministry issued a show cause notice to him, the sources said.

Dogra, on being recalled in the first week of March, had refused to abide by the order and had retaliated by publicly criticising the foreign secretary.

He had accused Saran of committing impropriety and had challenged him to prove the charges levelled against him. Dogra also said he would not return till Saran retired in September-end this year.

Left with no choice, the government last month revoked his passport along with that of his wife and their domestic servant in an effort to ensure that he returned home.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)