Washington: Devyani Khobragade, a high ranked Indian Diplomat had been arrested publically in New York on Thursday. She had been alleged for lying on the visa application for an Indian national who work for her for less than four dollars an hour.
Khobragade is the Deputy Consul General at the Indian Consulate in New York. She has been arrested on the street while dropping her daughter to school. She was arrested on the order of an Indian-born Preet Bharara, who is top federal prosecutor of Manhattan, said that Khobragade had presented false document for the women who works as a housekeeper and babysitter for her in New York from November since June 2013.
He alleged that Sangeeta Richard had been exploited by her and made to work for fewer wage.
He said, “This type of fraud on the United States and exploitation of an individual will not be tolerated.”
Ms Khobragade, 39, who has two young daughters, is in charge of Political, Economic, commercial and Women’s Affairs at the consulate. The charges against her carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Khobragade was however, released on a base of $250, 000 bail.
Sangeeta Richard has alleged that she was to be paid $ 4,500 per month according to the contract of employment which was furnished for her visa, but Khobragade later changed it to $ 537 a month. She also complained that she was forced to work more than 40 hours a week.
Indian embassy said in Washington that Sangeeta Richard had been “absconding since June” and faces an arrest warrant for cheating and extortion.
The lawyer of Khobragade argued in the court that her own salary is $4,120 per month then it is very hard for her to pay her more than that.
Bureau Report
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