Charges dropped against Devyani Visa fraud charges against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, whose arrest caused serious strains in India-US relations, have been dropped. A US court has ruled that Devyani Khobragade had diplomatic immunity at the time of her indictment on visa fraud and for paying her maid below contracted rates. Khobragade, who is now back in India, has said through a lawyer that the rule of law had prevailed. Indias ministry of external affairs is yet to react with a senior official they need to examine the connotation of the latest court ruling and see if that leaves attorneys to bring fresh charges against Devyani. India demanded an apology from the US after Devyani was arrested and strip-searched during her confinement with drug addicts and other criminals despite insisting she was an accredited diplomat. The US state department did regret the problems Devyanbi faced but said they could not impede the American judicial process. Indian officials allege that Devyanis maid Sangeeta Richards was trying to frame her in an attempt to secure US citizenship. Delhi 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 an American diplomat from India involved in flying out the Richards family to the US. Khobragade was detained in Dec on suspicion of visa fraud and making false statements, after being accused of paying her Indian maid below the US minimum wage. She returned to India in Jan after she was indicted on criminal charges and India refused to waive her immunity. Wednesdays ruling, however, does leave open the possibility that prosecutors could bring fresh charges against Devyani -- something that Delhi is trying to block through its back channel negotiations with Washington.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 06:21:38 +0000
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