New Delhi: The 39-year-old diplomat, whose December 12 arrest and strip search triggered a furore in India and a standoff with the US, reached Delhi on Friday night.
The diplomatic row between New Delhi and Washington flared up Friday, with India asking the American embassy to withdraw one of its officials soon after Devyani Khobragade was asked to the leave the US after being charged with visa fraud and making false statements.
Earlier in New York, a grand jury indicted Khobragade for visa fraud and making false statements about employment of her housekeeper Sangeeta Richard. She was told to leave the US immediately after India refused to waive her diplomatic immunity to face trial and transferred her to Delhi.
The diplomat had given “little more than 48 hours” to leave India is Wayne May, a counsellor instrumental in granting visa and helping Richard’s husband and two children’s “evacuation” to the US. Both Indian and US officials refused to respond to HT’s query about the name of the diplomat, which has not been made public.
The US deeply regretted India’s decision to “expel” one of its diplomats, but hoped a closure had been reached on the Khobragade issue, the US said. Another US diplomat, who purchased the tickets for the Richards availing tax exemption, could be in trouble next.
Bureau Report
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