Hitting out at the United States for the “unwarranted” arrest of his Indian diplomat-daughter Devyani Khobragade, Maharashtra’s former IAS officer Uttam Khobragade on Friday demanded an apology from the US Government for violating human rights and international laws.
An Indian Foreign Service officer, Devyani is the Deputy Consul General for Political, Economic, Commercial and Women’s Affairs at the Consulate General of India in New York City. She was arrested in connection with a case registered against by the US administration for allegedly making while hiring an employee from India as babysitter and housekeeper on an A-3 Visa.
“The US authorities have no powers to arrest her like this when her husband is away in Beirut for a conference, and she is along with two small daughters. They arrested her in a public place like a school, and that without a lady police constable in attendance. The matter is clearly a civil case between two Indian citizens and the US authorities have no jurisdiction,” Khobragade said here. Khobragade said the US Attorney had breached international law because the case pertaining to the housekeeper Sangeeta Richard was being heard in the Delhi High Court. “How can the US have jurisdiction over a matter that is being adjudicated by an Indian courtIJ, he asked.
Khboragade, whose name had figured along with that of Devyani in the Adarsh Housing Society scam probe in the past, said that his daughter’s arrest smacked of the US’ “mala fide intent” and “racial bias”. “The arrest is a slap on India and the Indian authorities have rightly lodged a strong protest with the US administration,” he said. According to Khobragade, Devyani — who was released on bail by a Manhattan court on a $250,000 bond on Thursday evening — has resumed work.