Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade arrested in New York for nanny fraud
The United States has greatly annoyed India after arresting and strip-searching its deputy consul general in New York, Devyani Khobragade, for allegedly submitting fraudulent visa papers for her children's Indian nanny. In response, the Indian government stripped the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi of its protective traffic barricades, amongst other protesting measures.
Khobragade was arrested on December 12 while she was dropping her daughters off at a school in Manhattan. She was handcuffed, taken away, then strip searched and thrown into a jail cell with alleged drug addicts. She was released the same day on a $250,000 bond.
The 39-year-old diplomat was charged with submitting false documents to secure her children's Indian nanny's working visa. She claimed that, in accordance with U.S. law, the nanny would be paid $4,500 per month. However Khobragade signed a separate agreement with the nanny wherein she said she would pay the woman roughly $573 a month.
The Indians are howling that the Americans had no right to strip-search one of their diplomats and feel that the U.S. is interfering with its sovereignty by insisting on applying American law in this situation. They also point out that Indian foreign service employees cannot be expected to pay such high fees for imported domestic labor, especially on what they claim are modest salaries.
The Americans have admitted to strip-searching Khobragade but argue that it was standard procedure to do so and say that the charge of visa fraud is not covered by diplomatic immunity as outlined in the Vienna Convention.
The New Delhi police were seen carting away the concrete traffic barricades that protect the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi in response to the arrest and revoked certain privileges afforded U.S. diplomats in India, such as clearances that make it for easier travel in and out of the country.
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Khobragade was arrested on December 12 while she was dropping her daughters off at a school in Manhattan. She was handcuffed, taken away, then strip searched and thrown into a jail cell with alleged drug addicts. She was released the same day on a $250,000 bond.
The 39-year-old diplomat was charged with submitting false documents to secure her children's Indian nanny's working visa. She claimed that, in accordance with U.S. law, the nanny would be paid $4,500 per month. However Khobragade signed a separate agreement with the nanny wherein she said she would pay the woman roughly $573 a month.
The Indians are howling that the Americans had no right to strip-search one of their diplomats and feel that the U.S. is interfering with its sovereignty by insisting on applying American law in this situation. They also point out that Indian foreign service employees cannot be expected to pay such high fees for imported domestic labor, especially on what they claim are modest salaries.
The Americans have admitted to strip-searching Khobragade but argue that it was standard procedure to do so and say that the charge of visa fraud is not covered by diplomatic immunity as outlined in the Vienna Convention.
The New Delhi police were seen carting away the concrete traffic barricades that protect the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi in response to the arrest and revoked certain privileges afforded U.S. diplomats in India, such as clearances that make it for easier travel in and out of the country.
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Daily videos brought to you by THE Taiwanes