Devyani Khobragade incident

Last updated

On December 11, 2013, Devyani Khobragade, then the Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of India in New York City, was charged by U.S. authorities with committing visa fraud and providing false statements in order to gain entry to the United States for Sangeeta Richard, [1] a woman of Indian nationality, for employment as a domestic worker for Khobragade in New York. [2] She was additionally charged with failing to pay the domestic worker a minimum wage. [3]

Contents

Khobragade was arrested the next day by U.S. federal law enforcement authorities, [4] subjected to a "strip search", presented to a judge, and released the same day. [5] [6] Her arrest and treatment received much media attention particularly in India, and led to a diplomatic row between India and the United States. [7] [8]

One week later, Khobragade was transferred by the government of India to the UN mission in New York, subject to clearance from the United States Department of State, which would entitle her to full diplomatic immunity. [9] Her former post entitled her only to consular immunity.

On January 8, 2014, the U.S. issued Khobragade the G-1 visa that granted her full diplomatic immunity. [10] Following this an unknown US State official is reported to have stated "The US requested waiver of immunity (of Devyani Khobragade). India denied that request. We then requested her departure, as per the standard procedure and the charges remain in place." [11] The next day, Khobragade left the United States by plane to India. [12] That same day she was indicted by a federal grand jury with visa fraud and making false statements. [12]

On March 12, 2014, Judge Shira Scheindlin ordered that all charges against Khobragade be dismissed because she had diplomatic immunity at the time of her indictment on visa fraud charges due to her posting to the United Nations prior to the indictment. [13] [14] Two days later, Khobragade was re-indicted on the same charges. [15] [16]

People

Devyani Khobragade

Dr. Devyani Khobragade is an Indian Foreign Service officer and a medical doctor who until December 18, 2013, was deputy consul general in the Consulate General of India in New York. She joined Indian Foreign Service in 1999. In her capacity of deputy consul general for India, she handled women's affairs as well as political and economic issues. Khobragade is married, with two children, to a U.S. citizen, Aakash Singh Rathore whose birthplace has not been verified. [17] [18]

Sangeeta Richard

Sangeeta Richard, 42, an Indian national and earlier holder of an Indian diplomatic passport, worked as nanny and domestic help for Khobragade from November 2012 until June 2013. Her husband, Philip Richard, used to work as a driver with the Mozambique mission in New Delhi. [19] It has been reported that Sangeeta's mother-in-law was employed with a senior US diplomat, who was posted in India between 2002 and 2007 and her father-in-law is still working in the US embassy in India. [20] [21]

Timeline

Hiring of Richard

In November 2012, Khobragade employed Richard, as a nanny and domestic servant for her residence in New York. Richard traveled on an Indian diplomatic passport issued by the government of India for its diplomatic staff. Richard entered the U.S. on an A-3 visa, which is a non-immigrant visa and permits the holder to work anywhere in the US for a specified employer. [19] [22]

In a legal complaint later filed by Richard and the United States government, it was described that before hire, Khobragade and Sangeeta Richard verbally agreed in India to a starting salary of 25,000 rupees per month, plus an additional 5,000 rupees for overtime. Based on the exchange rate at that time, 30,000 rupees was equivalent to 573.07 U.S. dollars or about $3.31 an hour, assuming a 40-hour work week. [23] Khobragade signed a written contract with Richard which stipulated her hourly salary in the U.S. would be $9.75 and that the normal working hours per week shall be 40. This contract was submitted to the U.S. government as part of the visa application where Khobragade stated Richard would be making "around $4,500 per month". [23] The complaint claims that Khobragade instructed Richard not to say anything to the embassy interviewer about being paid only 30,000 rupees per month, but to say she would be paid $9.75 an hour and work 40 hours a week. [23]

The complaint then alleges that Khobragade asked Richard to sign another employment contract shortly before leaving India, which was not intended to be revealed to the U.S. government. [24] This second contract allegedly says she was to be paid an expected salary of Rs. 30,000 per month with no mention of sick days or vacation time. [23]

Richard leaving Khobragade's home

On June 21, 2013, Khobragade left her children in the care of Richard and went on an out-of-town trip. On returning on June 23, 2013, Khobragade found Richard missing from her home. [22] On June 24, 2013, Khobragade informed the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) and requested help in tracing Richard. The OFM directed her to file a missing person report with New York City Police Department (NYPD). Initially NYPD refused to file the report, since Richard was not a family member. After written requests made on June 25, 2013, the NYPD filed a missing person report. [22] The NYPD then closed the case and it determined that Richard had simply left. [25]

After walking out of the house, Richard lived on the support of strangers within the Indian community in New York City, including a Gurdwara. Later, Richard contacted Safe Horizon, a nonprofit that has an anti-trafficking program, which took Richard to the State Department with the allegations. [25]

On July 1, 2013, Khobragade received a phone call from a person claiming to be Richard's lawyer and requesting her to process a change in visa status of Richard and provide compensation based on 19 hours of work per day. Khobragade refused to negotiate on the phone and demanded the caller's identity. [22] On July 2, 2013, Khobragade informed OFM to direct NYPD to identify the caller as the caller was trying to extort money. [22] On July 5, 2013, Khobragade filed a complaint of "aggravated harassment" with NYPD alleging extortion and blackmail by the caller. In India, officials briefed US embassy officials about the reports filed with NYPD and sought assistance in the matter. The Indian Embassy in Washington also made similar requests with the State Department in Washington. [22]

On July 8, 2013, "Access Immigration", a law office representing Richard, called for a meeting with Khobragade. Khobragade with other consulate officers met Richard. Richard requested payment of US$10,000, conversion of her Indian diplomatic passport to an India ordinary passport and assistance for getting required US visa for continued stay in United States. Indian consulate officers informed Richard that she was required to return to India as she was on an Indian diplomatic passport and that compensation regarding work hours would be settled before departure to India. [22]

On July 19, 2013, Philip Richard, husband of Richard, filed a petition in Indian court alleging that Khobragade and the Indian government held his wife in police custody in New York and had kept in "slavery-like conditions or keeping a person in bondage". The petition also stated that Uttam Khobragade had called Richard's family in India and threatened them with dire consequences if Richard were to complain. [26] The petition was withdrawn four days later. [22]

Following the July 8 meeting, the Indian government revoked Richard's Indian diplomatic passport with effect from June 22, 2013, and informed OFM about the termination of the passport. [19] [22]

On September 4, 2013, the US State Department issued a letter to the Indian ambassador to probe the allegation of Richard and for proof of minimum wages paid. Following this, on September 10, 2013, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs lodged strong protest with the US officials regarding the tone and content of the letter. Then, on September 21, 2013, the Indian Embassy sent a reply to the US State Department, highlighting that Richard seeks to subvert both Indian and US laws. [22]

On November 19, 2013, based on a complaint lodged by Khobragade, a Delhi court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Richard, which was forwarded to US State Department and US embassy for her immediate arrest. [22]

On December 10, 2013, Philip Richard, along with two children, went to the U.S. on a T visa; this visa permits victims of human trafficking and their close relatives to stay in the U.S. to testify against those accused of human trafficking crimes. [22] [27] Indian media claimed that the cost of air tickets for Philip Richard, and two children Jennifer and Jatin, was paid by the U.S. Embassy to India. [28]

Visa fraud charges

On December 11, 2013, Khobragade was charged with visa fraud. The charges allege that she committed visa fraud willfully and under penalty of perjury under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1546. It further alleges that Khobragade submitted an employment contract to the U.S. Department of State, in support of a visa application filed by Khobragade for another individual, which she knew to contain materially false and fraudulent statements. [23] The visa fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and the false statements charge carries a maximum sentence of five years. [24]

Arrest

Based on the charges filed by a special agent with the US Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the United States magistrate judge Debra Freeman issued an arrest warrant against Khobragade. Khobragade was arrested by US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service on December 12, 2013, around 9:30 am after dropping off her daughters at school on West 97th Street in Manhattan. [29]

Around noon, Khobragade was escorted to the federal courthouse in downtown Manhattan, where she was transferred into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and strip searched by a female deputy marshal in a private setting. [30] She was presented before a U.S. magistrate judge and pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was released at 4 p.m. the same day on a $250,000 recognizance bond. She also surrendered her passport. [8]

After her release, Khobragade wrote an email to her colleagues in the Indian Foreign Service where she claimed that she "broke down many times", owing to "the indignities of repeated handcuffing, stripping, and cavity searches, swabbing", and to being held "with common criminals and drug addicts". [31]

The next day, Indian media sources echoed her claims that after her arrest she was handcuffed, strip searched, DNA swabbed and subjected to a cavity search. [7] [32] [33]

On December 18, 2013, Nikki Credic-Barrett, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marshals Service, stated that Khobragade was strip searched but not subjected to a cavity search. Per agency regulations, a strip search can include a "visual inspection" of body cavities. Credic-Barrett also stated that anyone taken to holding cells of the New York federal courthouse is automatically subjected to a strip search if they are placed among other prisoners. [34] With reference to DNA swabbing, Credic-Barrett said that the responsibility for collection of a DNA sample was that of the arresting agency, US Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security. [35]

On December 19, 2013, Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, claimed that after her arrest, Khobragade was "accorded courtesies well beyond what other defendants, most of whom are American citizens, are accorded". [30] For about two hours after her arrest, she was allowed to make numerous phone calls in order to arrange for child care and sort out personal matters. [30]

Post transfer to United Nations

The Indian government moved Khobragade to a permanent position at the Indian Mission at the United Nations, New York in order to provide her with diplomatic immunity. [36] [37] The US State Department clarified that the full diplomatic immunity which she might receive in that post would not be retroactive. [38] On December 23, 2013, the United Nations approved a request from India to accredit Khobragade, [39] but also stated that US approval was still needed. [40] Khobragade was granted an exemption from personally appearing in court for the case. [41]

Khobragade was granted a G-1 visa by the United States Department of State on January 8, 2014, under the terms of Section 15 of the Headquarters Agreement between the United Nations and the United States which gave her full diplomatic immunity and would preclude any court jurisdiction over her. [42] [43] The U.S. officials said that the State Department had no choice but to grant Khobragade full diplomatic immunity once she was accredited to the United Nations because she did not pose a national security threat. [44]

Indictment and return to India

On January 9, 2014, a US grand jury indicted her on two counts, for visa fraud and making false statements to get a work visa for Sangeeta Richard, her housekeeper in New York. [45] Preet Bharara later confirmed that the charges against her will remain pending until she can be brought to court to face them, either through a waiver of immunity or her return to the US without immunity status. [46] Hours after Khobragade was indicted for visa fraud, India refused the US request to waive the immunity and transferred her to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. [47]

On January 9, 2014, Khobragade left the United States by plane to India after first receiving permission from U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin upon the advice of her lawyer, Daniel Arshack. [48] [12] As she left, she commented to an American colleague about her own leaving and Mrs. and Mr. Richard staying by saying that, "You have lost a good friend. It is unfortunate. In return, you got a maid and a drunken driver. They are in, and we are out." [49]

There are other accounts that despite Khobragade's media bravado, she was reluctant to leave US and had to be sternly told to return to India by the Indian External Ministry. [50]

Khobragade's children, aged 4 and 7, have remained in the U.S. with her husband Dr. Aakash Singh Rathore, who was then a visiting scholar in the department of Arts and Sciences at University of Pennsylvania. [51] All three are United States citizens. [49] Khobragade may only return to the U.S. to submit to the jurisdiction of a court. [18] Upon returning to India, Khobragade expressed that she missed her family. [52] "I wonder if I will be able to ever reunite with my family, my husband, my little kids. I miss them ... What if I can never return to the US, which I cannot now. Does it mean we will never be able to live together as a family again?" she said. [52] On January 13 it was announced that Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh had placed a gag order on Khobragade. [53] As of February 9 Khobragade's husband and children were living in the apartment for Devyani Khobragade at the Indian Embassy in Turtle Bay, Manhattan, creating the unusual situation in which they as American citizens had access to the Indian Embassy and the apartment without living with a diplomat. [54] Her husband planned to return to India with the children within two weeks. [54] He had received a job offer to teach at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. [54] [55]

Dismissal and re-issuance of indictment

Dismissal

On February 8, 2014, Khobragade moved for her visa fraud charge to be dismissed, reasoning that the country had no authority over her as she was granted diplomatic immunity when the indictment case was filed. [56] The prosecution opposed the motion, reasoning: "Having left the U.S. and returned to India, the defendant currently has no diplomatic or consular status in the U.S., and the consular level immunity that she did have at the relevant times does not give her immunity from the charges in this case, crimes arising out of non-official acts." [57]

On March 12, 2014, Judge Shira Scheindlin ordered that all charges against Khobragade be dismissed. [58] Her ruling noted that Khobragade received diplomatic immunity from the United Nations on January 8 and she held that immunity until January 9, on which day she left the United States. [58] Since the indictment was issued on January 9, the court found that "the government may not proceed on an indictment obtained when Khobragade was immune from the jurisdiction of the court." [58] The order did leave open the possibility that prosecutors could bring a new indictment, given that she no longer had immunity, having departed the U.S. [13] [14] Immediately after the indictment was dismissed, prosecutor Preet Bharara's office stated "there is currently no bar to a new indictment against her for her alleged criminal conduct, and we intend to proceed accordingly". [58] [59] Devyani Khobragade's father Uttam Khobragade said, "They tried to trap Devyani with a false complaint against her. I thank the Indian government and the Indians for their cooperation and help. She will go back to America with full diplomatic immunity." [60]

Re-issuance of indictment

On March 14, 2014, Khobragade was re-indicted on the same charges. [15] [16] A new warrant for Khobragade's arrest was subsequently issued. [61] Salman Khurshid, Indian Cabinet Minister of the Ministry of External Affairs, said that the re-issuance of an indictment was "extremely irksome". [62]

US diplomat expulsion

On January 10 the Indian government ordered the expulsion of US diplomat Wayne May because he had assisted Richard's family in securing T-visas and traveling to the United States. [63] Media sources stated that May had taken "unilateral actions" in expediting the travel of Richard's family from India and violated various procedures with respect to actions taken related to the case. Media sources also quoted disparaging remarks about India and Indian culture made by May and his wife on their personal social media accounts since their posting to New Delhi. [64] At the time of his expulsion, May was the head of the embassy's diplomatic security contingent managing a staff of 424 security officers including 10 Marine security guards, and had been in India since 2010. [65] [66] The expulsion of a US diplomat by India is viewed as unprecedented. In the history of the US-India relationships, a similar event has happened only once when India blocked appointment of George G B Griffin, a Reagan appointee, to the post of US political counselor, the third-ranking post in the United States Embassy. [67]

Sangeeta Richard's parent's-in-law worked for Wayne May, and he was accused of "evacuating" Richard's family illegally two days prior to Khobragade's arrest. [68]

Reactions and effects

Khobragade

In an email to her Indian diplomatic colleagues released to the media on December 18, 2013, Khobragade wrote: [31]

I am so grateful for all the outpouring of unequivocal support and backing that has been available to me from the fraternity. I take comfort in the confidence that this invaluable support will also be translated into strong and swift action, to ensure the safety of me and my children, as also to preserve the dignity of our service which is unquestionably under siege. While I was going through it, although I must admit that I broke down many times as the indignities of repeated handcuffing, stripping and cavity searches, swabbing, hold up with common criminals and drug addicts were all being imposed upon me despite my incessant assertions of immunity, I got the strength to regain composure and remain dignified thinking that I must represent all of my colleagues and my country with confidence and pride. I feel I can continue to do so thanks to this strong and prolific support.

India

In India, much of criticism of the actions of the US authorities centered on the claims made by Indian media that Khobragade was handcuffed in public, subjected to a strip search, and made to share a cell with "drug addicts". [69]

Government officials and ministers in India reacted strongly against the arrest of the diplomat and cited the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations whereby diplomats enjoy immunity. US government officials maintain that they followed "standard procedures", and that Khobragade has only consular immunity, giving her protection from arrest related to her consular duties but not to crimes committed on US soil. India's Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh registered a protest with the US ambassador to India Nancy Jo Powell. Powell clarified that immunity from US courts only applies to "acts performed in the exercise of consular functions." [70]

In further protest, several senior politicians and officials from Indian government refused to meet the US Congressional delegation that was visiting India at that time. These included Speaker of the Lok Sabha Meira Kumar, Minister of Home Affairs Sushilkumar Shinde, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and prime ministerial candidate of NDA for the then upcoming 2014 Indian general elections and Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi. [8] [7] The US Congressional delegation included representatives George Holding, Pete Olson, David Schweikert, Rob Woodall and Madeleine Bordallo. [71]

Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha called for the arrest of same-sex companions of US diplomats, citing the Supreme Court of India's recent upholding of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. [72] [73] The Indian government asked US consular officers posted in India to return all identity cards. [8] [7]

On December 17, 2013, Delhi Police removed security barricades on the road outside the US Embassy in New Delhi, citing need for improvement of traffic flow in that area. [74] India has demanded an unconditional apology from the US government [74] and asked the details of the salaries of all domestic help, gardeners and other staff employed by US consulates in India to check for inconsistency or frauds. [74] India moved to block perks such as alcohol and food imports at concessional rates, for embassy employees. [75] With new restrictions, U.S. Embassy vehicles will not be immune to traffic violations, the restrictions also requires the embassy not to hold "Commercial Activities" in its premises. [76] Indian income tax and immigration authorities are investigating allegations of work-permit, visa and income tax fraud at the American Embassy School. [77] [78] [79]

On December 18, 2013, the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, criticized the actions of the US authorities as "deplorable". [80] Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati complained that the Indian government was not reacting strongly enough, asserting that it was insufficiently supportive to Khobragade because she belonged to a Dalit caste. [81]

Protests took place outside the US consulates in New Delhi, [82] Mumbai, [82] Chennai [83] and Hyderabad. [80] [82] [84] [85]

On January 23, 2014, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid raised with US Secretary of State John Kerry, the issue of granting US visa to the husband of Sangeeta Richard despite a police case pending against him in a Delhi court. [86]

On January 29, 2014, Indian ambassador to United States, S Jaishankar opined that this incident should never have happened and called for the need of greater sensitivity, of better understanding and of stronger oversight of ties between two countries. [87]

On February 13, 2014, the front-runner [88] in opinion polls to lead the next Indian government, Narendra Modi, echoed the Indian government's position in calling for a permanent solution to the Devyani Khobragade issue during his talks with the US Ambassador Nancy Powell. [89]

On March 15, 2014, Indian government spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said India was "disappointed" by the U.S. Justice Department's second indictment of Khobragade, calling the decision to do so "unnecessary" and warned that: "Any measures consequent to this decision in the US will unfortunately impact upon efforts on both sides to build the India-US strategic partnership, to which both sides are committed." He added that the Indian government will "no longer engage on this case in the United States' legal system". [90]

United States

On December 18, 2013, John Kerry expressed regret over the circumstances regarding the arrest and strip-search of the Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade and empathized as a father of two daughters at similar age as Khobragade. [91]

Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, whose office had filed the charges, [92] [93] defended the handling of the arrest and custody, though his office was not involved. He claimed that Khobragade was accorded courtesies well beyond what other defendants, most of whom are American citizens, are accorded. [24]

On the evening of December 19, 2013, US undersecretary of state for political affairs Wendy Sherman called up Indian foreign secretary Sujatha Singh to convey regrets regarding the episode. Sherman offered a consular dialogue between India and US to resolve the problems of domestic staff and immunity issue. [94] Sherman spoke with Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh to stress the importance of ties following the arrest details and pledged to work through the complex issues of the case. [95]

On December 19, 2013, State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters Washington was not pressuring U.S. law enforcement to drop the case.

On March 14, 2014, when Khobragade was indicted again after a dismissal of the first indictment on March 12, State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters that the State Department stands by the court papers it had filed opposing Khobragade's bid to get the charges dismissed. [96]

On 28 May 2014, Robert D. Blackwill, the former US ambassador to India from 2001 to 2003 and currently a Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow for US foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) opined that the treatment meted out to Devyani Khobragade and the subsequent impact of the incident on US-India relations as giving a "new meaning to the word stupid". [97] [98]

Speaking at Harvard Law School in 2014, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, in the Khobragade case, said: "(It was) not the crime of the century but a serious crime nonetheless, that is why the State Department opened the case, that is why the State Department investigated it. That is why career agents in the State Department asked career prosecutors in my office to approve criminal charges." [99] [100] Bharara, who was born in India, said that he was upset by attacks on him in the Indian press. [101]

The 2014 State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report appeared to classify the Khobragade incident as an example of human trafficking, stating: "An Indian consular officer at the New York consulate was indicted in December 2013 for visa fraud related to her alleged exploitation of an Indian domestic worker." [102] In response, India has shown no urgency to allow visits to India by the newly appointed US anti-people trafficking ambassador Susan P. Coppedge. Indian ambassador to the US, Arun K. Singh reiterated India's commitment to work within an international framework to tackle the problem of trafficking but rejected any "unilateral assessments" by another country saying "We will never accept it" and downplayed the importance of the visits: "When you ask a U.S. official when somebody will be given a visa, they always say 'we will assess when visa is applied for.' ... I can do no better than to reiterate the U.S. position." [103]

Sangeeta Richard

Sangeeta Richard, the domestic worker in the Khobragade case, is being represented by Safe Horizon, a victim assistance agency. On December 20, 2013, Dana Sussman, staff attorney in the anti-trafficking program at Safe Horizon said there was "frustration and disappointment that the media and the officials portrayed this story in the way that they have." [104] Sussman also denied claims that Richard had sought to extort money from Khobragde after leaving her employment. "She essentially worked very long hours, was isolated within the home, and attempted to ask for more time off, ask for more reasonable hours, but those attempts to resolve the issues were unsuccessful." Describing Richard's reaction to the publicity surrounding the case, Sussman said "It's quite overwhelming for her. I think she's been frustrated with the response that somehow has been on the victimization of the defendant." [25]

In court papers filed in Delhi, Richard's husband Phillip alleged that she was required to work from 6 am to 11 pm every day, with just two hours off on Sunday to go to church. [26] He also claimed that money was deducted from Richard's wages when she fell ill, and that Uttam Khobragade, Devyani's father, had threatened the Richard family with abduction and false drugs allegations if Richard complained about her treatment. [26]

In January 2014, several days after Sangeeta and her husband had started to live together in US, the couple filed for divorce. [105]

Domestic worker groups

On December 20 a group of nearly fifty people representing migrant domestic workers protested for an hour outside the Indian Consulate in New York City. Among the rights groups were Safe Horizon, the victim assistance agency representing Richard, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Damayan Migrant Workers Association and the National Guestworker Alliance. Yomara Velez of the National Domestic Workers Alliance said "We are calling for a fair trial and compensation for Richard. There is a larger issue here about diplomatic immunity and about how do we provide basic labour protections for all domestic workers not just in the US but globally as well." [106]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diplomatic immunity</span> Form of legal immunity and a policy held between governments and tribunals

Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law by which certain foreign government officials are recognized as having legal immunity from the jurisdiction of another country. It allows diplomats safe passage and freedom of travel in a host country and affords almost total protection from local lawsuits and prosecution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diplomatic Security Service</span> US Department of State law enforcement agency

The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is the principal security and law enforcement agency of the United States Department of State (DOS). As the operational division of DOS Bureau of Diplomatic Security, its primary mission is to provide security to protect diplomatic assets, personnel, and information, and combat visa and passport fraud. DSS also conducts counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cybersecurity and criminal investigations domestically and abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shira Scheindlin</span> American judge

Shira A. Scheindlin is an American attorney and jurist who served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She is currently of counsel at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between India and the United States date back to India's independence movement and have continued well after independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. Currently, India and the United States enjoy close relations and have deepened collaboration on issues such as counterterrorism and countering Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Jo Powell</span> American diplomat

Nancy Jo Powell was the United States Ambassador to India from April 2012 to May 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States India Political Action Committee</span>

The United States India Political Action Committee is a political action committee based in Washington, D.C. Since its founding in 2002 by businessman Sanjay Puri, USINPAC has described its goal as "working closely with other Indian-American organizations to promote fair and balanced policies, and create a platform to enable the entry of Indian Americans in the political process." Particular issues of note have related to legal immigration, counter-terrorism, business relations, global health, religious freedom, education, and US-India trade. USINPAC has also donated significant funding to the political campaigns of both Democratic and Republican politicians, and past Senate candidates supported by USINPAC include Aruna Miller, Aneesh Chopra, Vivek Kundra, and Kesha Ram among others. USINPAC is involved with the annual US business delegation to India, and has periodically held briefings for members of the United States Congress and the United States House of Representatives. An active proponent of the H-1B Visa Program between 2003 and 2008, USINPAC has also supported the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, the Hyde Act, the Section 123 Agreement, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, and hate-crime expansions to the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA), among others.

Halkbank is a Turkish bank, first incorporated in 1933 as a state-owned bank. After growing throughout much of the twentieth century, it began absorbing smaller-sized state banks around the turn of the millennium. Halkbank is now a publicly traded company, although the majority stakeholder remains the Turkish government. Halkbank is a bank that offers vehicle loans, housing loans, consumer loans and commercial loans. A number of scandals and controversies involving the bank emerged in the 2010s, some of which culminated in arrests of its executives.

Uttam Khobragade is a senior retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service and father of Indian Diplomat Devyani Khobragade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preet Bharara</span> American lawyer and former federal prosecutor (born 1968)

Preetinder Singh Bharara is an Indian-born American lawyer and former federal prosecutor who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017. He is currently a partner at the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for five years prior to leading the Southern District of New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adarsh Housing Society scam</span> Housing allocation scheme in Mumbai

The Adarsh Housing Society is a 31-story building constructed on prime real estate in Colaba, Bombay, for the welfare of war widows and personnel of India's Ministry of Defence. Over a period of several years, politicians, bureaucrats and military officers allegedly conspired to bend several rules concerning land ownership, zoning, floor space index and membership getting themselves flats allotted in this cooperative society at below-market rates.

Visa fraud has different criteria in various parts of the world but the commonly accepted points are the sale, provision, or transfer of otherwise legitimate visas, misrepresentation of reasons for traveling and forgery or alteration of a visa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consulate General of the United States, Chennai</span> American consulate in Tamil Nadu, India

The Consulate General of the United States of America in Chennai represents the interests of the United States government in Chennai, India and surrounding regions. The consulate reports to the ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The current Consul General, the 27th, is Christopher W. Hodges, incumbent since July 2023. He was preceded by Judith Ravin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. Jaishankar</span> External Affairs Minister of India since 2019

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is an Indian diplomat and politician serving as the Minister of External Affairs of the Government of India since 30 May 2019. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha since 5 July 2019. He previously served as the Foreign Secretary from January 2015 to January 2018. He became the second ever diplomat to be appointed as India's External Affairs minister, after Natwar Singh.

Devyani Khobragade is a central civil servant of Indian Foreign Service cadre. She was in the news after being charged with visa fraud when she was posted in the Indian Consul in New York City in the United States. She is currently serving as ambassador of India to Cambodia at Embassy of India, Phnom Penh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Arshack</span> American lawyer

Daniel "Dan" Arshack is an American criminal defense attorney, co-founder of The Bronx Defenders, managing partner of the law firm Arshack, Hajek and Lehrman, PLLC, and a founding member of the International Criminal Bar, which was created to promote "the development of an independent legal profession and practice before the International Criminal Court." Arshack, who has been a defender for his entire career and "has never put anyone behind bars as either a prosecutor or government counsel," is known for his expertise on international criminal justice issues, lawyer trainings, and anti-death penalty advocacy. Arshack has conducted training for lawyers in Paris, Beirut, The Hague, Victoria, Montreal, Liberia, and New York. His specialties are trial advocacy techniques, ethics, and international criminal tribunals. He has also been an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namrata Brar</span>

Namrata Brar is an Indian-American journalist, investigative reporter and news anchor. She is the former US Bureau Chief for NDTV. Brar is the great-grand-niece of noted Hungarian-Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil. She has covered 2016 United States presidential election and was involved in a diplomatic incident between Pakistan and India during a press conference held in the United States by the Pakistani Foreign Secretary.

<i>Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation</i> Indian LGBT Rights Case

Suresh Kumar Koushal &Anr. v. NAZ Foundation &Ors.(2013) is a case in which a 2 judge Supreme Court bench consisting of G. S. Singhvi and S. J. Mukhopadhaya overturned the Delhi High Court case Naz Foundation v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi and reinstated Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The Supreme Court of India decided to revisit this judgement after several curative petitions were filed against it, in 2017. Thereby in 2018, Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, a 5 judge bench of the Supreme Court overturned this judgement, decriminalizing homosexuality. Portions of Section 377 relating to sex with minors, non-consensual sexual acts such as rape, and bestiality remain in force.

Dr. Neena Malhotra is an Indian Foreign Service officer (1992). Since September 2020 she is the Indian Ambassador to Italy, Republic of San Marino, and UN Organizations in Rome with residence in Rome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uzra Zeya</span> American diplomat

Uzra Zeya is an American diplomat who has served as the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights in the Biden Administration since July 2021.

The American Embassy School (AES), New Delhi, India, is an independent, co-educational day school that offers an educational program from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. The school is not run by the U.S. Embassy, and its student body represents more than 60 nationalities. The school was reported in 2014 to be one of the most elite in Delhi. It is adjacent to the Embassy of the United States in the city's Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave.

References

  1. ↑ This article renders her family as Richard. Some sources, including some cited in this article, render her name as Richards.
  2. ↑ "Who is Devyani Khobragade?". The Times of India .
  3. ↑ "Indian Diplomatic Row: Devyani Khobragade Arrest to Be Reviewed". Time .
  4. ↑ Harris, Gardiner (December 17, 2013). "Diplomat's Arrest in New York". The New York Times . Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Indian official: Diplomat's arrest in NYC barbaric". Associated Press . Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  6. ↑ "US admits diplomat Devyani Khobragade strip-searched as India launches reprisals over arrest". Australian Broadcasting Company . Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Row deepens". BBC. December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "India takes US head on". The Economic Times . December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  9. ↑ "India accuses US of immigration fraud, transfers Devyani to permanent mission at UN". The Times of India. December 18, 2013.
  10. ↑ Ghosh, Deepshikha (January 10, 2014). "Devyani Khobragade gets full diplomatic immunity, on her way to India". NDTV . Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade Case India refuses US request to waive immunity". NDTV.
  12. 1 2 3 Neumeister, Larry; Lee, Matthew (January 9, 2014). "Strip-Searched Diplomat Indicted on Fraud Charge". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Devyani Khobragade: Diplomat row charges dropped in US". BBC. March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  14. 1 2 Jonathan Stempel and Shyamantha Asokan (March 13, 2014). "UPDATE 3-Indian diplomat in U.S. row wins indictment dismissal". Reuters. Retrieved March 13, 2014.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. 1 2 "Indian Diplomat Re-Indicted in US Visa Fraud Case". ABC News. Associated Press. March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Indian diplomat re-indicted in US visa fraud case". Reuters. March 14, 2014. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  17. ↑ "More skeletons tumble out of Devyani Khobragade's cupboard". December 23, 2013.
  18. 1 2 Narayan Lakshman (January 11, 2014). "U.S. offered reduced charge of misdemeanour". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  19. 1 2 3 "Who is Sangeeta Richard?". The Times of India . December 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 23, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Govt says Devyani victim of conspiracy, accuses US of facilitating visa fraud".
  21. ↑ Arora, Kamna (December 18, 2013). "India moves Devyani Khobragade to UN, accuses US of committing visa fraud". Zee News. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Parashar, Sachin (December 18, 2013). "Timeline of Devyani Khobragade case". The Times of India . Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 Mathur, Aneesha. "Leading to Devyani's arrest, a verbal deal and 'two contracts'". Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  24. 1 2 3 "Arrest, strip-search of Indian diplomat in New York triggers uproar". CNN. December 19, 2013.
  25. 1 2 3 "Lawyer: Sangeeta Richard did not extort money from Devyani Khobragade". The Economic Times. December 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  26. 1 2 3 "The Other Side of the Story". Outlook India. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  27. ↑ P T I (December 18, 2013). "Was US govt aware of whereabouts of Devyani Khobragade's maid?". The Economic Times. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  28. ↑ P T I (December 24, 2013). "Devyani Khobragade case: US embassy paid for air tickets of domestic help's family, say sources". NDTV. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade reveals how she 'broke down' after 'stripping and cavity searches' as row between U.S. and India deepens". National Post. December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  30. 1 2 3 Bharara, Preet (December 19, 2013). "Statement Of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara On U.S. v. Devyani Khobragade" (Press release). New York City, New York, USA: The United States Attorneys Office - Southern District of New York. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  31. 1 2 Booth, William (December 18, 2013). "Devyani Khobragade letter to her colleagues: The full text". The Washington Post . Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Diplomat row: Devyani Khobragade detained with sex workers and drug addicts; put through cavity search". DNA India.
  33. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade put through cavity search because her crime of visa fraud is a felony". Zee News. December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Kerry expresses regret over strip search of arrested Indian diplomat". CBS News.
  35. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade not subjected to cavity search, claim US Marshals". DNA via Press Trust of India. December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade transferred to UN mission, can apply for full diplomatic immunity". NDTV.com. December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade case: As it happened on Wednesday." zeenews.india.com. December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  38. ↑ Lakshman, Narayan (December 21, 2013). "No retroactive immunity for Devyani, says U.S". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  39. ↑ "U.N. approves India's request to accredit diplomat charged by U.S." Reuters. December 23, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Accused Indian diplomat needs US OK for UN job". Washington Post. Associated Press. December 23, 2013. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Thaw in India-US stand-off over Devyani Khobragade issue".
  42. ↑ "Diplomatic immunity to Dr. Devayani Khobragade". Mea.gov.in. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  43. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade back in Delhi after hard negotiations, India expels US diplomat in tit-for-tat action". NDTV. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  44. ↑ Jethro Mullen and Harmeet Shah Singh (January 10, 2014). "India asks U.S. to withdraw official from its embassy in New Delhi, source says". CNN. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  45. ↑ Burke, Jason; Roberts, Dan (January 10, 2014). "Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade leaves US under immunity". The Guardian. January 10, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Tit for tat expulsions: India orders US diplomat to leave country". The Times of India. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade arrives in New Delhi from New York following Indo-US diplomatic row". India Today. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  48. ↑ Reuters, "Timeline: Diplomatic Flurry in Indian Envoy's Final Hours in U.S>" The New York Times (January 9, 2014)
  49. 1 2 Barry, Ellen; Weiser, Benjamin (January 10, 2014). "As Indian Diplomat Exits After Arrest, a Culture Clash Lingers". The New York Times . New York. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  50. ↑ Kapoor, Coomi (January 26, 2014). "Stories from the most dramatic democracy in the world". The Indian Express . Indian Express . Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Dr. Aakash Singh Rathore". Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  52. 1 2 "Wonder if I will ever reunite with my family, Devyani Khobragade says". The Times of India. January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  53. ↑ "14 more maids in US, threat of Devyani rerun looms". The Times of India. January 14, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  54. 1 2 3 Nayar, K.P. (February 10, 2014). "JNU to diplomatic rescue". telegraphindia.com. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  55. ↑ "Devyani's husband to teach at JNU, kids coming too". Hindustan Times . February 11, 2014. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  56. ↑ Lakshman, Narayan (February 8, 2014). "Devyani seeks dismissal of visa fraud case in U.S. court". IANS. Chennai, India: The Hindu. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  57. ↑ Narayan Lakshman (February 2, 2014). "Devyani's immunity a fabrication: Bharara". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  58. 1 2 3 4 Debucquoy-Dodley, Dominique (March 13, 2014). "Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade indicted again". cnn.com. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  59. ↑ CNN-IBN staff (March 13, 2014). "US court dismisses indictment of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade". ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  60. ↑ staff writer (March 13, 2014). "India welcomes dismissal of visa fraud charges against Devyani Khobragade". The Times of India. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  61. ↑ "Arrest warrant issued against Khobragade in US visa fraud case". The Hindu. Chennai, India. PTI. March 15, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  62. ↑ staff writer (March 16, 2014). "Khobragade incident 'extremely irksome', time for closure: Salman Khurshid". The Times of India . Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  63. ↑ "Devyani case: Sangeeta's in-laws had worked with expelled US diplomat". The Times of India. 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  64. ↑ Rajghatta, Chidanand (January 13, 2014). "Wayne's World: Was expelled US official a bleeding heart or an Ugly American". The Times of India. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  65. ↑ Emily Pehrsson (March 23, 2011). "On the Front Lines: Diplomatic Security in the 21st Century" (PDF). The Monitor, Journal of International Studies. College of William and Mary. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  66. ↑ Rama Lakshmi and Karen DeYoung (January 11, 2014). "India demands ouster of us diplomat allegedly involved in nanny pay dispute". Washington Post. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  67. ↑ Bernard Gwertzman (September 2, 1981). "India Bars Senior U.s. Diplomat, Stirring a Dispute". The New York Times. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  68. ↑ "Richard Family Flight Plan Drawn Up By Nexus of US Diplomats- The New Indian Express".[ dead link ]
  69. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade: India-US diplomat row escalates". BBC News. December 17, 2013.
  70. ↑ Parashar, Sachin (December 15, 2013). "India, US fight over Devyani Khobragade's immunity". The Times of India . Archived from the original on December 16, 2013.
  71. ↑ Magnier, Mark (December 17, 2013). "India snubs U.S. delegation, withdraws security over diplomat's arrest". Los Angeles Times .
  72. ↑ Buncombe, Andrew (December 17, 2013). "India-US row over arrest of diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York escalates". The Independent. London.
  73. ↑ "Punish US diplomats with same sex companions: Yashwant Sinha". Business Standard. December 17, 2013.
  74. 1 2 3 "India demands apology". Firstpost India. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  75. ↑ India blocks cheap booze for US diplomats after envoy's arrest and strip-search in NYC – World News
  76. ↑ "India targets American diplomats' privileges following envoy's strip search". Fox News. January 8, 2014.
  77. ↑ "I-T dept 'discreetly' probing US embassy school". Hindustan Times. February 9, 2014. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014.
  78. ↑ Harris, Gardiner; Weiser, Benjamin (January 16, 2014). "American Embassy School in India Ensnared in U.S. Diplomatic Spat". The New York Times.
  79. ↑ "India awaits info from US embassy, will take action". Press Trust of India. February 5, 2014.
  80. 1 2 "Diplomat arrest: PM says US action deplorable, Khurshid smells rat". Hindustan Times . New Delhi. December 18, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  81. ↑ "Govt approach on diplomat issue shows anti-dalit mentality: Mayawati". The Times of India. December 18, 2013.
  82. 1 2 3 "Anti-US protests in India". The Times of India.
  83. ↑ "Indian diplomat row: Congress workers protest outside US Consulate General campus". Daily News and Analysis. Chennai. December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  84. ↑ "Protest near US Consulate over Ill Treatment of Diplomat". Hyderabad: The New Indian Express. December 17, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  85. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade's father aspired for berth in RS,daughter has Adarsh flat & more". December 19, 2013.
  86. ↑ "India raises Issue of US Visa to Sangeeta Richard's Family with John Kerry". IANS. Biharprabha News. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  87. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade Incident should never have happened: Indian Ambassador". IANS. Biharprabha News. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  88. ↑ "US Ends Boycott of Indian Opposition Leader". Voice of America (VoA). February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  89. ↑ "Modi brings up 'ill-treatment' of Devyani Khobragade in meeting with US Ambassador". Indian Express News. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  90. ↑ "India says 'disappointed' at US re-indictment of diplomat". AFP. March 15, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  91. ↑ "John Kerry was aware of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade's arrest: US State Department". India Today.
  92. ↑ Brar, Namrata (December 17, 2013). "Indian diplomat arrested in US for alleged visa fraud, handcuffed in public". NDTV.com.
  93. ↑ Brar, Namrata (December 13, 2013). "India summons US ambassador to protest diplomat being handcuffed". NDTV.com.
  94. ↑ "Diplomat's arrest: US distances itself from Preet Bharara's comments; India wants apology, case dropped". The Times of India.
  95. ↑ "U.S. tries again to calm India over accused diplomat". Reuters. December 19, 2013.
  96. ↑ Booth, William (March 14, 2014). "New indictment filed against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in U.S. visa fraud case". Washington Post. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  97. ↑ "The New Indian Government (Video of Panel Discussion)". Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). May 28, 2014. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  98. ↑ Blackwill, Robert (May 29, 2014). "US To Warm Up To India After Prime Minister Modi's Win". Bernama. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  99. ↑ "Preet Bharara talks Khobragade case at Harvard Law School". Press Trust of India. India Today. June 1, 2014.
  100. ↑ "Bharara talks Khobragade case". Press Trust of India. New York: Business Standard. June 2, 2014.
  101. ↑ "Bharara says upset by criticism". Press Trust of India. New York: The Indian Express. June 1, 2014.
  102. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade featured in U.S. human trafficking report". The Hindu. June 21, 2014.
  103. ↑ "India blocks visits by U.S. officials despite warmer ties". Reuters. November 20, 2015.
  104. ↑ Lakshman, Narayan (December 20, 2013). "Devyani grossly underpaid domestic worker, say lawyers". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  105. ↑ "Devyani Khobragade's help, husband cite 'differences', file for divorce". March 12, 2014.
  106. ↑ "Khobragade affair: Protests for Sangeeta Richard in New York; against US in Chennai". Hindustan Times. December 21, 2013. Archived from the original on December 23, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.