No cavity-search on Devyani: Marshals
Indian diplomat was not subject to cavity search, as being alleged, US Marshals Services said.
New Delhi: Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, arrested last week in New York on charges of visa fraud, was not subject to cavity search, as being alleged, the US Marshals Services claimed on Thursday.
“In reference to your question about the cavity search, the answer is no,” Nikki Credic-Barrett, spokesperson of the US Marshals Service, said in response to a question on the allegations by the family of the senior Indian diplomat that she was subject to cavity search.
“Devyani Khobragade was transferred to the US Marshals at approximately noon, December 12, pending her initial appearance before a United States federal magistrate judge,” the spokesperson said.
Also read: How can you evacuate Indian citizens?: Delhi tears into Preet Bharara
Meanwhile, PM Manmohan Singh, who has described Ms Khobragade’s treatment by the US authorities as “deplorable”, is learnt to have directed external affairs minister Salman Khurshid and NSA Shivshankar Menon to ensure “full resolution” of the matter.
A seething India also drew’s the US’ attention to the manner in which the US has facilitated the flight of the husband and two children of the diplomat’s maid Sangeeta Richard. It also asked Mr Bharara: “What right does a foreign government have to ‘evacuate’ Indian citizens from India while cases are pending against them within the Indian legal system?”
Read on: How Devyani Khobragade was insulted, humiliated in US
The PM was updated on the developments concerning the diplomat’s case by external affairs minister Salman Khurshid. He was also briefed by the NSA on the phone conversation he had with US secretary of state John Kerry, who had called him up late o Wednesday. While the secretary of state expressed his regret, India is seeking an unconditional apology and withdrawal of all the charges against the diplomat.
Next: US in sorry mode after outrage
US in sorry mode after outrage
Parul Chandra | DC
New Delhi: On a day when a raging Indian government lashed out at Preet Bharara, the US district attorney who sought to justify the arrest and humiliation of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, the American government sought to distance itself from his remarks.
Making mincemeat of Mr Bharara’s remarks, India said on Thursday that these were just “one more attempt at post facto rationalisation of action which should never has taken in the first place”.
In a bid to mollify a fuming India, US undersecretary of state for political affairs Wendy Sherman called up foreign secretary Sujatha Singh for the second time in as many days on Thursday night. It is learnt that the two discussed specific efforts to resolve the issue.