New Delhi: new twist in Devyani Khobragade case, she had full diplomatic status at the time of her arrest in New York on December 12 on visa fraud charges. India has enforced reciprocity on U.S. consulate staff here by insisting they have access only to those privileges that are extended to Indian consular staff posted in the U.S.
Deputy Consular-General at the Indian Consulate in New York a rank the U.S. said, did not entitle her to immunity she was as an Advisor to India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations since August 26. One possible explanation why the fact remained buried all this time is because a huge number of Indian diplomats were accredited to the Permanent Mission in U.N. before its 68th General Assembly (UNGA) got underway.
This year’s session was more important and hectic for Indian diplomats because Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to attend the UNGA (and meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington). A large contingent of Indian Foreign Office officials of various ranks were asked to apply to the U.N. for accreditation.
Bureau Report
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