Indian deputy consul general arrested in US on visa fraud charges

[manlion]

Devyani Khobragade, deputy consul general at the Indian consulate in New York, was arrested on charges that she allegedly presented fraudulent documents to the United States State Department in support of a visa application for an Indian national employed as a babysitter and housekeeper at her home in Manhattan.

The arrest of Khobragade, who is currently employed as the Deputy Consul General for Political, Economic, Commercial and Women’s Affairs at the Consulate General of India in New York, was announced Thursday by Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

“Foreign nationals brought to the US to serve as domestic workers are entitled to the same protections against exploitation as those afforded to US citizens. The false statements and fraud alleged to have occurred here were designed to circumvent those protections so that a visa would issue for a domestic worker who was promised far less than a fair wage. This type of fraud on the United States and exploitation of an individual will not be tolerated,” Bhahara said.

The 39-year-old Indian official was charged with one count of visa fraud and one count of making false statements, which carry maximum sentences of ten years and five years in prison, respectively.

Khobragade is expected to appear on Thursday afternoon before US Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman.


Indian deputy consul general arrested in US on visa fraud charges - Rediff.com India News

 

[manlion]

Diplomat's arrest: Indian embassy in damage-control mode - Rediff.com India News

 

[Imran Khan]

yaar aysi malkin humy kiyoon nhi mili ajj tak ?

 

[faithfulguy]

I wonder if India would retaliate by arresting an US diplomat?

 

[zootinali]

Does n't she have Diplomatic immunity ?

 

[adwityagrata]

Of course she has Diplomatic immunity. Even Pakistan and China has never arrested our Ambassador or consulate staff.

If I am not mistaken this is the 3rd arrest of Indian consulate member in the last 10 years. LOL.

 

[OrionHunter]

yaar aysi malkin humy kiyoon nhi mili ajj tak ?

Mujhe nahin mili tho aapko kaise milegi?

 

[adwityagrata]

Indian diplomat arrested in US for alleged visa fraud, handcuffed in public | NDTV.com

Sangeeta Richard has alleged that she was to be paid $ 4,500 per month according to the employment contract furnished for her visa, but Ms Khobragade later changed it to $ 537 a month. She also complained that she was forced to work more than 40 hours a week.

Ms Khobragade's lawyers argue that with her own salary of $ 4,000 a month, she can hardly pay her help more than that. They also said her arrest on the street, without being given a chance to explain, was "shocking and unprecedented."

 

[Imran Khan]

why don't she work herself ???????

 

[adwityagrata]

why don't she work herself ???????

The girl hired was a Nanny and the women arrested was a consulate employee. Do you have kids ? or do you think the women's place is in the house and kitchen ??

 

[Imran Khan]

The girl hired was a Nanny and the women arrested was a consulate employee. Do you have kids ? or do you think the women's place is in the house and kitchen ??

its not abut nanny or kids its status symbol now a days her pay was 4000$ per month and she have to manage it in this money rather then commit a crime .

 

[Beidou2020]

Typical

 

[venu309]

Preet Bhahara, United States Attorney who said that such fraud by foreign nationals will not be tolerated is an Indian American from Firozepur.

 

[zootinali]

Of course she has Diplomatic immunity. Even Pakistan and China has never arrested our Ambassador or consulate staff.

If I am not mistaken this is the 3rd arrest of Indian consulate member in the last 10 years. LOL.

OK !! If proven guilty ,will she be sent to prison or not ? or she would be just expelled from USA??
IDK but should GOI interfere ?? She is a daughter of some top diplomat , i read and was involved in adarsh scam also ........

BTW does any one know about women prisons in USA ?? the things we see in 80s exploitation movies, are they true??

 

[venu309]

She probably took a domestic servant from India to US & paid her the same amount as she would have paid in India.