New Delhi: The Deputy Consul General at the Indian consulate in New York, Devyani Khobragade, has been arrested reportedly on visa fraud charges. She has been released from custody on a $ 25,000 bond. She pleaded not guilty in federal court here to charges of visa fraud.
This came after she allegedly presented the US State department with fraud documents in support of a visa application for an Indian national employed by her.
Embassy of India in Washington said, "We have been informed that Deputy Consul General of India in New York, Dr. Devyani Khobragade, was taken into custody by law enforcement authorities in New York in the morning of December 12,2013 while she was dropping her daughter at school. Dr. Khobragade was later released that same evening.
"Action was apparently taken against Dr Khobragade on the basis of allegations raised by the officer's former India-based domestic assistant, Ms Sangeeta Richard, who has been absconding since June this year. In this context the Delhi High Court had issued an-interim injunction in September to restrain Ms Richards from instituting any actions or proceedings against Dr Khobragade outside India on the terms or conditions of her employment.
"The US Government had subsequently been requested to locate Ms Richard and facilitate the service of an arrest warrant, issued by the Metropolitan Magistrate of the South District Court in New Delhi under Sections 387, 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code.
"The Embassy of India in Washington DC had immediately conveyed its strong concern to the US Government over the action taken against Dr Khobragade. The US side have been urged to resolve the matter with due sensitivity, taking into account the existing Court case in India that has already been brought to their attention by the Government of India, and the Diplomatic status of the officer concerned."
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