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Version 1 Version 2
Indian Diplomat Facing Charges Is Moved to U.N. Post Indian Envoy Is Transferred To U.N. Post
(about 7 hours later)
Indian officials said Saturday they had transferred a diplomat who is facing charges in the United States to a job with India’s United Nations delegation, a position that could protect her from charges that she was underpaying a housekeeper. Indian officials said Saturday that they had transferred a diplomat who is facing charges in the United States to a job with India’s United Nations delegation, a position that could protect her from allegations that she was underpaying a housekeeper.
The diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, 39, the deputy consul general in New York, has been at the center of a heated battle between the U.S. and India since she was accused of submitting false documents to obtain a work visa for the housekeeper. Indian officials say she was arrested and handcuffed as she left her daughter at school, and other accounts say she was strip-searched by the authorities, reports that have drawn fierce condemnation in India. The diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, 39, the deputy consul general in New York, has been at the center of a heated battle between the United States and India since she was accused of submitting false documents to obtain a work visa for the housekeeper. Indian officials have complained about what they consider humiliating treatment after Ms. Khobragade was arrested as she left her daughter at school and later strip-searched by the authorities.
The Indian ambassador to the United Nations, Asoke Mukherji, wrote Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon telling him of Ms. Khobragade’s transfer. The Indian ambassador to the United Nations, Asoke Mukerji, wrote to Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general, telling him of Ms. Khobragade’s transfer.
Ms. Khobragade was arrested Dec. 12 and released on $250,000 bail. She pleaded not guilty to charges of visa fraud and making false statements about how much she paid her housekeeper, also an Indian. Ms. Khobragade was arrested Dec. 12 and released on $250,000 bail. She has been charged with visa fraud and making false statements about how much she paid her housekeeper, who is also Indian. Ms. Khobragade’s lawyer, Daniel N. Arshack, has called the charges “false and baseless” and has said she would plead not guilty.
A position with the U.N. would afford Ms. Khobragade more diplomatic protection from prosecution in the U.S., although it was unclear whether the U.S. State Department would approve her transfer. A position with the United Nations would afford Ms. Khobragade more diplomatic protection from prosecution in the United States, although it was unclear whether the State Department would approve her transfer.
The decision to move Ms. Khobragade to the United Nations post came after American officials vigorously defended their handling of the matter amid a firestorm of criticism from Indian politicians and in its media. Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Wednesday that Ms. Khobragade “clearly tried to evade U.S. law designed to protect from exploitation the domestic employees of diplomats and consular officers.” The decision to move Ms. Khobragade to the United Nations post came after American officials vigorously defended their handling of the matter amid criticism from Indian politicians and in its news media. Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Wednesday that Ms. Khobragade “clearly tried to evade U.S. law designed to protect from exploitation the domestic employees of diplomats and consular officers.”
Mr. Mukherji, the ambassador, said Ms. Khobragade’s new position would give her protection from arrest. He also said Ms. Khobragade was discreetly detained and afforded courtesies “beyond” those accorded United States citizens. He said though she was “fully searched,” it was done by a female deputy marshal in a private setting, the standard procedure.
“We have welcomed her into our team here at the U.N. — I have had a meeting with her,” Mr. Mukherji said. “As soon as she is accredited, we hope she will be able to discharge her responsibilities.”
Mr. Bharara said India’s focus on Ms. Khobragade’s plight obscured the treatment of the alleged victim in the case. Prosecutors say the diplomat forced the housekeeper to work longer hours than agreed to and that she was paid far less than the minimum wage.Mr. Bharara said India’s focus on Ms. Khobragade’s plight obscured the treatment of the alleged victim in the case. Prosecutors say the diplomat forced the housekeeper to work longer hours than agreed to and that she was paid far less than the minimum wage.
Mr. Mukerji, the ambassador, said Ms. Khobragade’s new position would give her protection from arrest.
“We have welcomed her into our team here at the U.N.,” he said. “As soon as she is accredited, we hope she will be able to discharge her responsibilities.”

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: December 21, 2013

An earlier version of this article misstated the surname of the Indian ambassador to the United Nations. He is Asoke Mukerji, not Mukherji.