Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade’s status as a “Special Advisor” to the UN entitled her to diplomatic immunity from prosecution at the time of her arrest last year on visa fraud charges, according to a letter from the United Nations.
The letter from UN Assistant Secretary General for legal Affairs Stephen Mathias was submitted in a US court by Khobragade’s lawyer Daniel Arshack to bolster the claim that she had immunity when she was arrested in December for allegedly making false declarations in a visa application for her maid. Arshack said the 39-year-old diplomat was credentialed as a “Special Advisor” to the UN from August 26 to December 31 last year.
He said Khobragade was appointed an advisor in August last year ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit for the UN General Assembly session. Given that Khobragade had a UN credential of Special Advisor, she was immune from arrest on December 12 and prosecution on visa fraud charges, he said. Arshack submitted the letter from the UN Assistant Secretary General as an exhibit in court along with his motion to dismiss the indictment against Khobragade.