Washington: In a fresh move, A US grand jury on Friday re-indicted Devyani Khobragade on same criminal charges contained in the first indictment, dismissed by a New York court earlier. A warrant for her arrest has also been issued.
The Indian diplomat is charged with visa fraud and making false statements that could together get her a maximum of 15 years in jail if she was ever tried and convicted. “A grand jury has returned a true bill on Friday on a two-count criminal indictment of Devyani Khobragade,†said the office of US attorney Preet Bharara in an announcement.
India has long argued that Khobragade should never have been charged, or indeed arrested at all, as she was covered by full diplomatic immunity at all times, citing reciprocity. India has maintained the US had no business acting on the complaints of the diplomat’s housekeeper, Sangeeta Richard, as their dispute was already in court in India.
The new indictment means Khobragade, who is married to an Indian- American, will be tried whenever she returns to the US, unless the case lapses under the statute of limitation.
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