Devyani Khobragade, 39, was arrested when she dropped off her daughter at school. She was placed in a cell with drug addicts and was asked to post $ 250,000 bail. Khobragade has pleaded not guilty but if convicted she faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for the visa fraud and five years for making a false declaration.
The Indian officials reacted violently. The politicians urged diplomatic retaliation and as an immediate consequence the Indian police removed the protective traffic barricades near the US Embassy in New Delhi. The action was ordered by the Indian government after declaring it was “shocked and appalled at the manner in which the diplomat had been humiliated “ in the US. The Indian National Security Adviser appreciated the procedure against the Indian diplomat as “despicable and barbaric.” Some rumors affirming that Khobragade was strip-searched after her arrest, unconfirmed yet officially, are a very sensitive issue in India.
On Tuesday, Indian political leaders representing both the ruling party and the opposition refused to meet the US congressional delegation in New Delhi, as previously scheduled. This diplomatic incident is far from being closed.
