The 39-year-old consular agent was due to appear in court later in the day on charges of rape, senior police officer T Sunil Kumar said.

The man was questioned by police on Friday after his Indian wife alleged that he sexually abused their daughter.

The arrest was made after the External Affairs Ministry clarified on Monday night that he did not have diplomatic immunity, Kumar said.

"He is not a diplomat, he is an official attached to the consulate general's office. He will be tried under Indian law," he said.

The mother wrote to the government and the French ambassador to India requesting that her husband be prevented from leaving the country until all legal proceedings are completed.

She also asked the embassy for financial and legal assistance for herself and her three children, who are French citizens.

Activists and local residents demonstrated outside the consulate on Monday demanding the arrest of the official. The French mission later issued a statement saying it would fully cooperate with the police investigation.