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| U.S. Outlines Efforts to Reach Plea With Indian Diplomat | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The office of Preet Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan, said in court papers Monday night that prosecutors had engaged in “hours of discussion in the hope of negotiating a plea” with the Indian diplomat whose recent arrest in New York led to an outcry in India. | The office of Preet Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan, said in court papers Monday night that prosecutors had engaged in “hours of discussion in the hope of negotiating a plea” with the Indian diplomat whose recent arrest in New York led to an outcry in India. |
| As recently as last Saturday, Mr. Bharara’s office said, the government “outlined reasonable parameters for a plea that could resolve the case, to which the defendant has not responded.” Mr. Bharara said his office remained open to continuing such talks. | As recently as last Saturday, Mr. Bharara’s office said, the government “outlined reasonable parameters for a plea that could resolve the case, to which the defendant has not responded.” Mr. Bharara said his office remained open to continuing such talks. |
| The filings followed a letter earlier in the day from the lawyer for the diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, who said that there had been “significant communications” with prosecutors and “other government officials,” apparently in an attempt to resolve the case. | The filings followed a letter earlier in the day from the lawyer for the diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, who said that there had been “significant communications” with prosecutors and “other government officials,” apparently in an attempt to resolve the case. |
| The lawyer, Daniel N. Arshack, asked in the letter to a federal magistrate judge, Sarah Netburn, for an extension of the time prosecutors had before they must return an indictment against Ms. Khobragade. | The lawyer, Daniel N. Arshack, asked in the letter to a federal magistrate judge, Sarah Netburn, for an extension of the time prosecutors had before they must return an indictment against Ms. Khobragade. |
| Ms. Khobragade, 39, was arrested on Dec. 12 and charged with fraudulently obtaining a visa for a housekeeper. Mr. Arshack indicated in his letter that an indictment must be returned or a preliminary hearing held in his client’s case by next Monday. “It is our strong view,” Mr. Arshack wrote to Judge Netburn, “that the pressure of the impending deadline is counterproductive to continued communications.” | Ms. Khobragade, 39, was arrested on Dec. 12 and charged with fraudulently obtaining a visa for a housekeeper. Mr. Arshack indicated in his letter that an indictment must be returned or a preliminary hearing held in his client’s case by next Monday. “It is our strong view,” Mr. Arshack wrote to Judge Netburn, “that the pressure of the impending deadline is counterproductive to continued communications.” |
| He added that the time limit was “interfering with the parties’ ability to continue to have meaningful discussions.” | He added that the time limit was “interfering with the parties’ ability to continue to have meaningful discussions.” |
| Ms. Khobragade’s arrest led to furious criticism in India, with accounts that she had been strip-searched and cavity-searched before being released on bond. | Ms. Khobragade’s arrest led to furious criticism in India, with accounts that she had been strip-searched and cavity-searched before being released on bond. |
| In an effort to ease tensions with the Indian government, Secretary of State John Kerry expressed regret in a call to a senior Indian official, but Mr. Bharara defended the case, asking whether prosecutors should “look the other way, ignore the law and the civil rights of victims.” | In an effort to ease tensions with the Indian government, Secretary of State John Kerry expressed regret in a call to a senior Indian official, but Mr. Bharara defended the case, asking whether prosecutors should “look the other way, ignore the law and the civil rights of victims.” |
| Prosecutors have said Ms. Khobragade gave the housekeeper, Sangeeta Richard, a contract that promised to pay her an hourly salary of $9.75, which was then presented to the United States Embassy in New Delhi as part of the visa process. But later, the government said, Ms. Khobragade gave Ms. Richard a second contract that promised to pay her about $3.30 an hour. | Prosecutors have said Ms. Khobragade gave the housekeeper, Sangeeta Richard, a contract that promised to pay her an hourly salary of $9.75, which was then presented to the United States Embassy in New Delhi as part of the visa process. But later, the government said, Ms. Khobragade gave Ms. Richard a second contract that promised to pay her about $3.30 an hour. |
| Ultimately, prosecutors said, Ms. Richard worked far longer than 40 hours a week and was paid less than she was promised. Mr. Arshack has said his client denies the charges. | Ultimately, prosecutors said, Ms. Richard worked far longer than 40 hours a week and was paid less than she was promised. Mr. Arshack has said his client denies the charges. |