Khobragade immunity claim challenged in US
Saturday, 1 February 2014
The Indian diplomat whose December arrest led to a major international dispute holds no immunity from US prosecution and should continue to faces charges of visa fraud, Manhattan federal prosecutors said in court papers filed Friday.
Devyani Khobragade was arrested on December 12 on charges that she lied to US authorities about what she paid her housekeeper.
She was stripped-searched while detained in Manhattan federal courthouse, which led to a diplomatic firestorm between India and the United States that continued for weeks.
Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara's office argues in the court filings that Khobragade is a former diplomat and not immune from prosecution.
As Indian officials demanded her release, Khobragade's New York attorney argued that her status as a consular official granted her immunity, according to a news agency.