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Devyani Khobragade
Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade has been re-indicted by a grand jury in the US.
Devyani Khobragade is accused of visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper, lawyers in New York said.
The move comes two days after a US judge threw out virtually identical charges on the grounds that Devyani Khobragade had diplomatic immunity.
Devyani Khobragade is accused of visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper in the US (photo Reuters)
However, that ruling left open the possibility that prosecutors could bring a new indictment.
Devyani Khobragade has always denied any wrongdoing.
Her lawyer, Daniel Arshack, had no immediate comment on Friday.
Devyani Khobragade was detained in New York in December on suspicion of visa fraud and making false statements, after being accused of paying her Indian maid below the US minimum wage.
The Indian government said it was “shocked and appalled” at the manner of her arrest, and ordered a series of diplomatic reprisals against the US, including the withdrawal of a US diplomat from India.
Devyani Khobragade returned to India in January after she was indicted on criminal charges and India refused to waive her immunity.
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A US has dismissed the visa fraud charges against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, whose arrest strained US-India relations.
Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled Devyani Khobragade had diplomatic immunity at the time of her indictment on visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper.
Devyani Khobragade, who has since left the US, said through a lawyer she felt the rule of law had prevailed.
India demanded an apology after Devyani Khobragade was arrested and strip-searched.
Devyani Khobragade had diplomatic immunity at the time of her indictment on visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper
Delhi said it was “shocked and appalled” at the manner of Devyani Khobragade arrest, and ordered a series of diplomatic reprisals against the US, including the withdrawal of a US diplomat from India.
Uttam Khobragade, the diplomat’s father, welcomed the ruling by the US judge.
US Attorney Preet Bharara said Devyani Khobragade was afforded courtesies most Americans would not receive during an arrest and said the search, done by a female agent, was a standard practice.
Devyani Khobragade was detained in December on suspicion of visa fraud and making false statements, after being accused of paying her Indian maid below the US minimum wage.
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Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters in Delhi there was “no stand-off” with the US and predicted problems would be sorted out.
The row erupted after the diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, was arrested in New York on charges of visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper.
Devyani Khobragade is now back in India after an apparent agreement with Washington.
“If there are any issues” India and the US will “sort them out mutually”, Salman Khurshid said in televised remarks.
Salman Khurshid was speaking a day after Devyani Khobragade arrived in India, where she was greeted by her father, Uttam. On Saturday, the two were welcomed by Salman Khurshid.
Surrounded by reporters on leaving the Maharashtra Sadan state guesthouse, Devyani Khobragade gave little away.
“No comments, I am really thankful for all your support… I cannot make any comments right now. My government will speak for me, my lawyer will speak for me,” she said.
Devyani Khobragade is now back in India after an apparent agreement with Washington
Devyani Khobragade was asked to leave the US as the diplomatic rift deepened.
The US meanwhile confirmed that an American official will leave its embassy in Delhi at India’s request – Salman Khurshid described this as an expulsion.
“We have our reasons and have informed the US about it. We are in touch with the US. We will do what needs to be done. I do not think that this needs more discussion,” Salman Khurshid said.
Washington said it deeply regretted the move but hoped that it would bring closure to the case and lead to a return to constructive ties.
The expelled US diplomat has not been named.
Sources told Agence France Presse that the individual was of similar rank to Devyani Khobragade and had been involved in the Khobragade case.
India had demanded an apology after Devyani Khobragade, 39, was handcuffed and strip-searched following her arrest last month. It refused to waive her immunity so she could be prosecuted in the US.
Devyani Khobragade has always denied any wrongdoing.
On Thursday Devyani Khobragade was indicted by a US federal grand jury in Manhattan, but was also granted immunity by US officials, paving the way for her to return to India.
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According to new reports, the US is proceeding with the prosecution of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade after her arrest earlier this month caused a huge diplomatic row.
Devyani Khobragade’s detention on charges of visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper led to outrage in India, where she is seen as being victimized.
She has denied all the charges and has been released on bail.
India has demanded an apology from the US over her alleged “humiliation”.
But Press Trust of India news agency quoted American sources in New York as saying that the US is gathering more evidence against Devyani Khobragade ahead of January 13, the deadline for her indictment.
The sources said there was no question of dropping the charges against Devyani Khobragade or apologizing for the arrest.
The US is proceeding with the prosecution of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade after her arrest earlier this month caused a huge diplomatic row
Devyani Khobragade, India’s deputy consul general in New York, was arrested in the city on December 12 on suspicion of visa fraud and making false statements, after being accused of paying her Indian maid below the US minimum wage.
She was handcuffed and strip-searched after a complaint from the maid, Sangeeta Richard.
Devyani Khobragade, who has been released on bail, denies all the charges and has in turn accused Sangeeta Richard of theft and attempted blackmail.
Delhi had already ordered a series of reprisals against the US.
Security barricades around the US embassy in Delhi were removed and a visiting US delegation was snubbed by senior Indian politicians and officials. India is also checking the tax status of Americans working at schools in the country.
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India is checking the tax statuses of Americans working at schools in the country, after the arrest this month of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York.
Devyani Khobragade – the deputy consul general of India in New York – was handcuffed and strip-searched while in custody.
Her detention on charges of visa fraud and underpayment of her housekeeper sparked outrage in India.
India would no longer turn a blind eye to tax violations by diplomats’ spouses taking up work in the country, Reuters cited an unnamed official as saying.
Delhi has also withdrawn some privileges enjoyed by American diplomats and their families in the country, added the official.
“Spouses and children have no more immunity. So if there is a parking offence or… something else happening in Bangalore etcetera, they would be held liable.”
While US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed his “regret” over Devyani Khobragade’s arrest, the state department has said it will not drop charges, as requested by India.
Delhi has also demanded an apology from the US over the diplomat’s alleged “humiliation”.
Devyani Khobragade’s detention on charges of visa fraud and underpayment of her housekeeper sparked outrage in India
India’s deputy consul general in New York was arrested in the city on December 12 on suspicion of visa fraud and making false statements, after being accused of underpaying her Indian maid.
She was handcuffed and strip-searched after a complaint from the maid, Sangeeta Richard.
The diplomat, who has been released on bail, denies all the charges and has in turn accused Sangeeta Richard of theft and attempted blackmail.
Delhi had already ordered a series of reprisals against the US.
Security barricades around the US embassy in Delhi were removed and a visiting US delegation was snubbed by senior Indian politicians and officials.
According to documents filed in a New York court, Devyani Khobragade wrote on a visa application that the maid would be paid $4,500 a month.
But investigators said she instead paid only $573 per month – less than the New York state minimum wage.
If found guilty, Devyani Khobragade faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for visa fraud and five years for making false statements.
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