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Indian deputy consul general arrested in US on visa fraud charges

maniac

By maniac
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seedhi Newbie

seedhi

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Made this point around a 1000 times on this thread - refusal to understand. Btw' date=' forget a criminal case - the Richards family (which flew from India to US)do no not even have a criminal case against them.[/quote']Sure, legally US cannot be faulted. But it is a major issue as far as bilateral relations go. Otherwise why is US making so much of fuss about Edward Snowden. India cannot ignore this action of "evacuating" the Richard family. And I would love for India making an offer of asylum to Edward Snowden.
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Crookbond Newbie

Crookbond

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yes. But definitely use of word "evacuation" as used by Mr. Bharara is very offensive for a sovereign country like India.
If I were India, I would introspect a bit further. In our country, the family members of convicts face societal problems which essentially makes it difficult to live a normal life. It basically points down to our broken reactive (rather than pro-active) justice system. Bharara basically has cut a deal for Sangeeta Richards - "You testify against Devyani and we will keep your family safe. Currently, your passport is revoked and sooner or later your family will face persecution in India too. You qualify for a T-visa and after 3-years we will give you permanent residency citing India persecution". Contrary to what other people say (some deplorable racist terms used here), he's been known for busting people in NY including American citizens and firms like Bank of America, Deutche Bank, Citi Mortgage etc. He was even named India Abroad person of the year 2011 which focuses on Indians in America - http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-preet-bharara-is-india-abroad-person-of-the-year-2011/20120630.htm Prior awardees include Bobby Jindal, Mira Nair, Indra Nooyi etc. To a certain degree, India is trying to play the "victim card". That in itself tells you who has the upper hand and who doesn't. http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/December10/picowerforfeituresettlementpr.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/October10/monserratehiramarrestpr.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/December10/leibellvincentpleapr.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/February10/seabrooklarryindictmentpr.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/January10/annabisandyetalindictmentpr.pdf http://www.forbes.com/sites/afontevecchia/2013/12/18/preet-bhararas-insider-trading-crusade-takes-down-ex-sac-trader-michael-steinberg-is-steve-cohen-next/ http://rivertowns.dailyvoice.com/news/jury-finds-annabi-jereis-guilty-corruption http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/April13/SmithetalPR.php http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bofa-liable-for-countrywide-fraud-jury-finds-2013-10-23/
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Crookbond Newbie

Crookbond

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Sure' date=' legally US cannot be faulted. But it is a major issue as far as bilateral relations go. Otherwise why is US making so much of fuss about Edward Snowden. India cannot ignore this action of "evacuating" the Richard family. And I would love for India making an offer of asylum to Edward Snowden.[/quote'] Look - Devyani Khobragade is being accused of making her maid sign a second contract and delete the most important phrase from the contract. IF this is proven in court (and this is indeed corect), she is going to have quite some bad days ahead in her life. IF this is true - India should bite the bullet., IF it is NOT - US should apologize.
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someone Collaborator

someone

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In USA internal, the public support is with the government and against the Indian diplomat , thus there is absolutely no reason for US to back down. And even in other countries, there has been protests at Indian consulate for poor salary to workers. And this matter has been ongoing for so long for months, and only because of our (India) incompetence. And after her arrest, there is only a short window where things can be fixed and I feel India has missed this window. Imo, India is on a losing battle and its actually pathetic that they have made the maid who was underpaid as the aggressor and no sympathy offered at all. That doesn't go down well worldwide

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Stuge Proficient

Stuge

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Stunning. A nice tight slap across the faces of those who think they can weasel out of their responsibilities through money and intimidation. You really have to admire the US for enforcing the law without being intimidated by the person's background and/or social status. :hatsoff:
Dalit vote tu gaye ::On the behalf of Mayavati :P
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Crookbond Newbie

Crookbond

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The new statement from US State Dept. spokesperson says 1 - They won't drop charges and non prosecution isn't an option 2 - They will go ahead with prosecution and trial even if the complaint is withdrawn 3 - Diplomatic immunity has to be accepted by the UN Secretariat and US office. Even if US accepts it, the immunity won't be retroactive and therefore, will have no bearing on the case If the above is true, India will end with an egg on its face.

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Malcolm Merlyn Collaborator

Malcolm Merlyn

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The new statement from US State Dept. spokesperson says 1 - They won't drop charges and non prosecution isn't an option 2 - They will go ahead with prosecution and trial even if the complaint is withdrawn 3 - Diplomatic immunity has to be accepted by the UN Secretariat and US office. Even if US accepts it, the immunity won't be retroactive and therefore, will have no bearing on the case If the above is true, India will end with an egg on its face.
If she gets diplomatic immunity then she can simply refuse to go to court and they cant arrest her either nor can stop her from flying back to India.The case may continue and will have little bearing on her. Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 2
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Crookbond Newbie

Crookbond

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If she gets diplomatic immunity then she can simply refuse to go to court and they cant arrest her either nor can stop her from flying back to India.The case may continue and will have little bearing on her. Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 2
Dost tu nahi samjhega. It is just common sense that diplomatic immunity can't work retrospectively. You can't commit a crime in January, take diplomatic immunity in March and say "Apun immune dost, koi nahi haath laga sakta". Any change in diplomatic immunity will apply from the date one has got the immunity - that is just common sense. And FYI - the US and UN secretariat has to accept the change in diplomatic status first. Any whiff in subverting the US law and forget the immunity change. Also note that - Khobragade doesn't have a passport as NYPD has taken it away. Even to travel within the US - she has to notify authorities. Flying outside US will be pulling off an "Argo" in these circumstances.
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ganeshran Explorer

ganeshran

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Crap article: "And although Khobragade, herself, doesn’t make the minimum wage in the US, she remains out of the ambit and protection of US law as she is an employee of the Indian government." :WTF: Obvious troll is obvious.
Maybe they pay a salary in INR back home and they get a per diem, not really sure though. That is how some people on a business trip are paid
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Crookbond Newbie

Crookbond

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Official statement from Attorney's Office http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/December13/KhobragadeArrestPR.php

DEVYANI KHOBRAGADE prepared and electronically submitted an application for an A-3 visa (the “Visa Application”) through the website for the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center for an Indian national (“Witness-1”), who was to be the personal employee of KHOBRAGADE beginning in November 2012 at an address in New York, New York. The Visa Application stated that Witness-1 was to be paid $4,500 per month in U.S. dollars. KHOBRAGADE and Witness-1 also signed an employment contract (the “First Employment Contract”) for Witness-1 to bring to Witness-1’s interview at the U.S. Embassy in India in connection with the Visa Application, which Witness-1 did at KHOBRAGADE’s direction. The First Employment Contract stated, among other things, that KHOBRAGADE would pay Witness-1 the prevailing or minimum wage, whichever is greater, resulting in an hourly salary of $9.75. KHOBRAGADE knew that the First Employment Contract that KHOBRAGADE caused Witness-1 to submit to the U.S. State Department in connection with Witness-1’s Visa Application contained materially false and fraudulent statements about, among other things, Witness-1’s hourly wage and hours worked. Prior to the signing of the First Employment Contract, KHOBRAGADE and Witness-1 had agreed that KHOBRAGADE would pay 30,000 rupees per month, which at the time was equivalent to $573.07 U.S. At 40 hours per week, with approximately 4.3 weeks in a month, $573.07 equates to a rate of $3.31 per hour. However, KHOBRAGADE instructed Witness-1 to say that she would be paid $9.75 per hour, and not to say anything about being paid 30,000 rupees per month. KHOBRAGADE also instructed Witness-1 to say that Witness-1 would work 40 hours per week, and that Witness-1’s duty hours would be 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. She told Witness-1 that the First Employment Contract was a formality to get the visa.
In case Khobragade did as the US DA suggests, she is dead meat! The first contract says that she will pay an hourly salary of 9.75USD but if she signed another contract for 30,000 per month or 3.31USD per hour - she will be done in a court of law. IIRC, January 14 is the first hearing and it will be interesting how this pans out.
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Malcolm Merlyn Collaborator

Malcolm Merlyn

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Dost tu nahi samjhega. It is just common sense that diplomatic immunity can't work retrospectively. You can't commit a crime in January, take diplomatic immunity in March and say "Apun immune dost, koi nahi haath laga sakta". Any change in diplomatic immunity will apply from the date one has got the immunity - that is just common sense. And FYI - the US and UN secretariat has to accept the change in diplomatic status first. Any whiff in subverting the US law and forget the immunity change. Also note that - Khobragade doesn't have a passport as NYPD has taken it away. Even to travel within the US - she has to notify authorities. Flying outside US will be pulling off an "Argo" in these circumstances.
Lol.Kabhi Kabhar Indian news channels dekh lo.If she gets immunity now the case will continue but because she now has immunity they cant arrest her nor can they force her to come to court.The old case may continue and she may be found guilty but she cant be touched. Secondly how long will it for her to get a passport from her embassy. If US refuses her accredition in UN then all hell will break loose as not even Iranians or Cubans can have been denied such immunity when going to UN. India can also file cases againist US consulars here which again is an option. Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 2
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