Questions are being raised about the US embassy issuing visas for the domestic help Sangeeta Richard’s family just two days before diplomat Devyani Khorbagade’s arrest, with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid reiterating that the whole event was a ‘conspiracy’. While the US said that it communicated with the Indian embassy on September 24, the Indian mission in its reply pointed out that both in New Delhi and Washington reiterated requests with the US were left pending since July.
On July 2, Devyani Khobragade had filed a written complaint with the New Delhi police accusing Sangeeta Richards and her husband Philiip Richards of cheating. Later, an FIR was filed on July 5 .
On the same month, Richard had first filed a writ petition against Khobragade and the government of India, but then withdrew it within four days.
Despite the US State Department being apprised about all these cases, the husband and son were ‘evacuated’ from India on a special visa, just two days before Khobragade was arrested on Dec 12.
Earlier, the metropolitan magistrate issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Richard. This was forwarded to the state department and US embassy in New Delhi.
On October 8, a written response was sent to the State Department ‘rebutting the allegation and bringing out the facts of the case whereby Sangeeta was seeking to subvert both Indian and US laws’.
“The US side was also requested to assist in implementing an injunction issued on September 20, 2013 by the Delhi High Court against Sangeeta initiating action against Khobragade outside India.” “However, no response was received from the US side for any of these communications,” the Indian embassy press release stated.