Indian deputy consul general arrested in US on visa fraud charges

[dray]

See that is what i mean, when USA does not give ours immunity we should not, i saw news today that India has revoked those ids of americans and the status quo remains as such.Let them Americans make a mistake in India and see how it goes!

Devyani Khobragade case: India cancels all identity cards issued to US consular officials
All India | Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Updated: December 24, 2013 18:14 IST

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, who was arrested in the US for alleged visa fraud

New Delhi: The dispute between Washington and New Delhi over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York escalated today, with India taking steps to ensure that US consular officials here now have the same immunity as that offered to their Indian counterparts in America.

India said that all identity cards issued to US consular officers stand withdrawn. They will be replaced with "exact replicas" of those issued to Indian consulate officials in the US. Also, New Delhi has decided that now, no cards will be given to the family members of US consular officials, since that is not a courtesy extended to Indians in the US.

On December 12, New York deputy consul general Devyani Khobragade was arrested on criminal charges of visa fraud and making false statements about how much she paid her housekeeper, Sangeeta Richard.

Ms Khobragade pleaded not guilty to charges of visa fraud and making false statements about how much she paid her housekeeper. The diplomat was freed on December 13 on $250,000 bail.

Ms Khobragade's arrest on December 12 and the fact that she was strip-searched has enraged India, which is demanding that all charges be dropped against her.

The United Nations has approved a request to accredit her to the Indian mission in the UN, a move that could help end the stand-off with the United States and allow Ms Khobragade to be brought home without the prosecution proceeding.

The US has said that as India's deputy consul general in New York, Ms Khobragade had only limited diplomatic immunity from prosecution - not the more sweeping immunity accorded to UN-accredited diplomats.

One possible scenario to solve the crisis would be that she receives full diplomatic immunity in her UN post if the State Department approves her transfer. The US government would then ask for her immunity to be removed so she can face prosecution. Assuming India refused, the State Department could then take steps to have her removed from the country.

Devyani Khobragade case: India cancels all identity cards issued to US consular officials | NDTV.com

 

[RayOfLight]

Even after we had gazillion threads on this issue .. still some people come back with same questions again & again..

 

[Sashan]

@Sashan, you have to understand that, being a diplomat, she had to do work in odd hours and its not practical to hire a maid from US..Sangeeta agreed with terms here and 30000 rs isnt that bad for a nanny.. Yes, giving false information for visa was a wrong move but statement like maid was mistreated is just some imagination of some people..

Seiko - You are looking at it in isolation. Last year a 17 year old maid case came out where she was to be paid $100 per month(which is less than 2 days salary even for teen age girls working part-time here in US) but she was not paid properly and was made to work for 16 hours by an Indian diplomat with full immunity and this year this case. That diplomat was sued in civil court as criminal proceedings could not be filed and the court delivered a verdict of $1.5 million dollars damages and back pay but she fled to India without paying the 17 year old.

Every immigrant who had worked here in US and had a disagreement with the employer(even the educated H1B) will know how demoralizing it can be for the employee and though avenues are there to reach out to appropriate authorities, they do not have a clue on what will happen to them as well even if they are in the clear legally. Though the maid filed visa petition along with Devyani wrongly, not sure she would have schemed knowing fully well that anything can happen to her including prison terms if she reaches out to the authorities.

So you see there is a pattern here and not something in isolation. Many diplomats abuse their maids and that is the naked truth.

 

[Pulsar]

India is behaving like an ourengaten to protect a diplomat engaged in modern slavery.

India should have protected the maid instead. Looks like slavery is holy in India which needs to be protected even at the cost of a diplomatic spat.

Pakistan needs to learn from the US, which upheld its commitment to punish those who practice slavery and visa fraud on its soil.

We done US.

According to estimates by the WFF report, over 1.2 per cent of the Pakistani population is forced into some form of slavery.

Have you even bothered to check how you Pakistanis are treated in the Middle East? Like slaves and bonded labor. What action has your government taken?

Don't just pass judgement when you guys are far worse. Set your house in order first before pointing fingers at others.

You seem to be incurably servile towards the US. Though it's in your DNA it is time you stop the boot worship and have some self respect, especially after what the Americans have and are doing to you.

You're so enamored by the Yanks that you've even pasted an American flag at the end of your post!

 

[Guynextdoor2]

@neehar

There is 'much more' to this story than it seems.

@Chanakya's_Chant

We have blown the covers of 3 CIA station chiefs, forcing their expulsion in 3 years, which is unprecedented in recent history.

We have blocked NATO's supply routes twice and they are still blocked in KPK.

Please know your facts...Pakistan being a weak country as compared to the US, does stand its ground more often than India does.

@seiko

Visa fraud and slavery are serious issues in the US. I don't expect her to be scott free any time soon.

Its GOI which in the end would have to stop its rhetoric.

No- Pakistan has made itself weak through silly double dealing and ridiculousness. People take us seriously not because we 'talk loudly' in a confident manner, but because no Osama Bin Ladens will be found on our soil. If there were 9/11 suspects on our soil, we'd have packed them off to the US in 24 hours flat- without any loud protests. That's why we don't have drone attacks and that's why we can be assertive on other important things.

 

[Kompromat]

@Irfan Baloch

Reportedly the lady's hubby is Pakistani.

 

[arp2041]

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

That will be seen as being TOO SOFT.

Wait for few days & we will press the nuclear button:

 

[Sashan]

@Irfan Baloch

Reportedly the lady's hubby is Pakistani.

He is not. He is an Indian American who is a professor in Univ. of Penn with family business of winery in Michigan.

 

[karan.1970]

@karan.1970 , @sms

RD wasn't a diplomat. Ou purpose was to conduct a show trial of the station chief of world's most powerful organization.


On your diplomat, it depends on to what extent does the diplomatic immunity covers her.

Personally i'd like to see her broken down so she never enslaves another women ever again.

@karan.1970

Meri jan, US is a superpower, Pakistan and India are not.

Soon, this hoo haa is going to co,e to en end.

Again, kind of a redundant argument. A Pakistani will always want something bad for an Indian diplomat, so your dream of her broken down is no surprise, however far fetched it might be..

And what Show trial are you talking about. A non diplomat, not covered under diplomatic immunity slaughters 2 Pakistani citizens in broad day light in Pakistan, and all you want is a show trial.? Ok...

 

[arp2041]

@Irfan Baloch

Reportedly the lady's hubby is Pakistani.

Than its not just India's FIGHT but Pakistan's as well?? Will you let your BAHU die in an American Prison???

Let's join hands together & launch unimaginable pre-emptive strike on US.

I think this will be the BIGGEST CBM for the two nation.

 

[Star Wars]

@Irfan Baloch

Reportedly the lady's hubby is Pakistani.

NO....an Indian American..... Wine philosopher

 

[Kompromat]

That will be seen as being TOO SOFT.

Wait for few days & we will press the nuclear button:

Thats actually gas button, and there would be a few USN SSBNs with enough Tridents onboard to smoke you, while you can't reach them.

Cool the nuke talk.

 

[harpoon]

As far as I heard this is not the first time that a maid has ran away from Indian Consulate in NY accusing his/her employer of ill treatment and applied for asylum in USA....yet the Indian Diplomats and the govt had not learned their lesson. The only solution is to source the maids locally eventhough they have to be paid more salary than the diplomat himself. Some people in this forum may have problem with Indians employing 'White Servants' as seen by the frequent posting of one particular video by a person of one particular nationality, but that seems to be the only solution to stop any further embarrassments of our diplomats in countries like USA.

 

[Kompromat]

Than its not just India's FIGHT but Pakistan's as well?? Will you let your BAHU die in an American Prison???

Let's join hands together & launch unimaginable pre-emptive strike on US.

I think this will be the BIGGEST CBM for the two nation.

hehehe emotional card khel raha hai kameeny, i just cracked

 

[Iggy]

@Irfan Baloch

Reportedly the lady's hubby is Pakistani.

That is just some Pakistani trying the same old macho talking..

As far as I heard this is not the first time that a maid has ran away from Indian Consulate in NY accusing his/her employer of ill treatment and applied for asylum in USA....yet the Indian Diplomats and the govt had not learned their lesson. The only solution is to source the maids locally eventhough they have to be paid more salary than the diplomat himself. Some people in this forum may have problem with Indians employing 'White Servants' as seen by the frequent posting of one particular video by a person of one particular nationality, but that seems to be the only solution to stop any further embarrassments of our diplomats in countries like USA.

Is Devyani Khobragade victim of hyper NGOs and rights lawyers?

NEW DELHI: With the arrest of an Indian diplomat over visa charges in the US turning into a high-profile spat between the two countries, conspiracy theories abound in theministry of external affairs (MEA) as to whether there is more than meets the eye in the case against Devyani Khobragade.

One school of thinking has it that she may have got caught up in a targeted campaign by "overenthusiastic"NGOs and right lawyers who specialise in human rights and trafficking cases in the US looking to root out exploitation of domestic help. There is some talk of an inquiry to find out if this was indeed the case.

It is expected that Khobragade will be able to get full diplomatic immunity once her transfer to India's Permanent Mission at the United Nations is complete.

She may then get her passport back or be issued a new one, along with a fresh visa, allowing her to return to India. The diplomat currently works at the consulate in New York where she handles visa matters.

The government is also looking at the possibility of restaurant owners or entrepreneurs of Indian origin being part of the group targeting Indian diplomats, officials said.

"There have been reports in the past of some wealthy nonresident Indians and Indianowned restaurants trying to lure domestic help of Indian diplomats. While we have not yet received any such reports in Devyani's case so far, nothing can be ruled out," said an official on condition of anonymity. "The matter could be looked into after the dust settles down. Restaurant owners and wealthy NRIs can provide better salaries than any Indian diplomat."

MEA of ficials said the case could at best be described as a "wage dispute" and not visa fraud.

"Devyani was not trying to smuggle Sunita Richards to the USA. Rather, efforts were made to repatriate her back to India," an official said. The MEA would also investigate if anyone wanted Khobragade removed from the consulate as she may have not heeded their visa request.

Interestingly, all three cases where domestic help accused Indian diplomats of exploitation have been reported from New York. The earlier two cases were that of Neena Malhotra, now posted at headquarters, and Prabhu Dayal, former consul general in New York and now retired. None of them had to face arrest though.

Officials recalled a similar incident in Geneva several years ago. They said the situation arose because local NGOs and human rights lobbies were quick to instigate domestic help to complain of exploitation. To be sure, it's not clear whether the complaints are unjustified or not in any of these cases.

Is Devyani Khobragade victim of hyper NGOs and rights lawyers? - Economic Times