No question of apology to India; US to proceed with proseuction of Devyani Khobragade

New York: The US is proceeding with the prosecution of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade and has no intention to withdraw the case of visa fraud against her.

US sources here said today that more evidence was being gathered against the 39-year-old diplomat before the indictment is filed. The deadline for indictment is January 13.

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There is no question of apology to India over the arrest of Khobragade, the then Deputy Consul General of India, in New York on December 12 which has led to strong protests by the Indian government and widepread indignation in India.

The Indian government has demanded withdrawal of the casre and an apology for the treatmet meted out to the diplomat.

The sources said that the US government intended to proceed with the prosecution of Khobragade. The indictment will be brought, they emphasised. They said that everything with regard to the Indian diplomat had been done by the book and that there was no nefarious motive.

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The sources replied in the negative when asked if Khobragade, who has been transferred from the Indian Consulate to the country's mission to the UN subsequent to her arrest, enjoyed full diplomatic immunity at present.

They conceded, though, that if she gets UN immunity the diplomat cannot be prosecuted or brought to court for the period of the immunity. The case will be in "suspension" but will not be dismissed, they said.

After getting the UN immunity if she went back to India and then again comes on a visit to the US, she could face arrest since the charges would stand, the sources added.

Next - Don't want diplomat issue to impact ties with India: US

Don't want diplomat issue to impact ties with India: US

Washington: The US does not want the arrest of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade to negatively impact its important relationship with India, a top official has said. 

"We don't want this to negatively impact our relationship, that we work on a broad range of issues together, our bilateral relationship is too important. And we've said repeatedly that we don't want it," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters yesterday. 

"We had some good conversations with our Indian counterparts. And that's why what we're doing right now is letting that process play itself out and focusing from our end on moving the relationship forward, on the ground and here as well," Harf said. 

She was responding to questions about the impact on India-US relationship after the arrest of Khobragade. 

Khobragade, 39, was arrested on December 12 on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid Sangeeta Richard. She was released on a USD 250,000 bond. 

Her arrest and subsequent treatment meted out to her like strip-search and her detention along with drug addicts and criminals triggered a row between the two nations. 

The Indian Government has transferred Khobragade to its Permanent Mission to the United Nations so that she can enjoy full diplomatic immunity. 

Harf said the State Department is still reviewing the application for her transfer and issue the necessary documents for full diplomatic immunity. 

"We have received the paperwork from the United Nations. It is currently under review, and I don't have anything further for you on that except that we're taking a look at it, and when we have something more, we're happy to share it," she said. 

The State Department spokesperson, refuted report that the US Embassy is paying less wages or violating any local law in India. 

"Our standard practice - and I have no reason to believe that's not the case here - is to pay folks that work for us in countries around the world in conjunction with local law, with local practice," she said.

"I'm happy to look into those specific reports...It's my understanding that at a minimum, it comports with local law and local practice. But that doesn't mean that it's not beyond that. So I'm happy to check and see what our practice is across the board," she added. 

"I have no reason to believe that our folks have done anything wrong on that," Harf added.