Unfazed by the controversy generated by the case of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, US prosecutor Preet Bharara on Thursday said that she was ‘accorded courtesies’ and not handcuffed when she was arrested. He also vowed to hold those breaking the law accountable ‘no matter how powerful, rich or connected they are.’
In a lengthy and unusual explanation, Bharara said there has been “misinformation and factual inaccuracy” in the reporting on the Khobragade case which is “creating an inflammatory atmosphere.” “There has been much misinformation and factual inaccuracy in the reporting on the charges against Devyani Khobragade. It is important to correct these inaccuracies because they are misleading people and creating an inflammatory atmosphere on an unfounded basis,” he said.
“She was not, as has been incorrectly reported, arrested in front of her children. The agents arrested her in the most discreet way possible, and unlike most defendants, she was not then handcuffed or restrained. In fact, the arresting officers did not even seize her phone as they normally would have. Instead, they offered her the opportunity to make numerous calls to arrange personal matters and contact whomever she needed, including allowing her to arrange for child care,” he said.
“Although I am quite limited in my role as a prosecutor in what I can say, which in many ways constrains my ability here to explain the case to the extent I would like, I can nevertheless make sure the public record is clearer than it has been thus far,” Bharara said.
Bharara, Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, maintained that Khobragade evaded US laws designed to protect the domestic employees of diplomats and consular officers from exploitation.
“This Office’s sole motivation in this case, as in all cases, is to uphold the rule of law, protect victims, and hold accountable anyone who breaks the law — no matter what their societal status and no matter how powerful, rich or connected they are, he said.
He further said that legal attempts had begun in India against the victim, who had worked as a domestic help for Khobragade, and attempts were being made to "silence" her. He said the domestic help’s family was brought to the United States to ensure the safety of victims, witnesses and their families, while cases are pending.
He said that she was charged based on conduct as is alleged in the court complaint, that "shows she clearly tried to evade US law designed to protect from exploitation the domestic employees of diplomats and consular officers."
Accusing Khobragade of fraud, he said: "Not only did she try to evade the law, but as further alleged, she caused the victim and her spouse to attest to false documents and be a part of her scheme to lie to US government officials."
"So it is alleged not merely that she sought to evade the law, but that she affirmatively created false documents and went ahead with lying to the US government about what she was doing."
"One wonders even more pointedly whether any government would not take action regarding that alleged conduct where the purpose of the scheme was to unfairly treat a domestic worker in ways that violate the law… And one wonders why there is so much outrage about the alleged treatment of the Indian national accused of perpetrating these acts, but precious little outrage about the alleged treatment of the Indian victim and her spouseIJ" he added.
"Speculation about why the family was brought here has been rampant and incorrect… Some focus should perhaps be put on why it was necessary to evacuate the family and what actions were taken in India vis-à-vis them. Bharara said that his Office and the Justice Department are compelled to make sure that victims, witnesses and their families are safe and secure while cases are pending." (PTI)