New York: The United States prosecutors informed a court here late on Thursday that New York-based Devyani Khobragade, the Indian diplomat, whose arrest in New York sparked an intense row, has left the country as a grand jury unveiled charges of visa fraud and making false statements against her.

Reports suggest that Devyani has left for India after being granted full diplomatic immunity by the US.

“An Indian diplomat, whose arrest over treatment of her servant sparked a bitter row, has left the United States,” US authorities said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also confirmed that Devyani is on her way back to India and she has been transferred to New Delhi.

As per reports, Devyani who has been given given G1 visa, has left her children behind in the United States. The diplomat has also thanked the Government of India (GoI) and the national media for helping her caue.

Devyani’s lawyer Daniel Arshack has categorically dismissed charges against her and said that she did not make any false statement.

Devyani also said, “I will show my immunity to the court. The court will see that. I have diplomatic immunity. Only then will I leave the US.”

After weeks of escalating tensions between the usually friendly countries, the United States and India reached an agreement in which diplomat Devyani Khobragade left the country but still faces charges if she returns, officials said.

Meanwhile, India today refused the United States' request to waive the diplomatic immunity of senior diplomat Devyani Khobragade after the US accepted her request for UN accreditation, sources said.

Preet Bharara, the US Attorney in Manhattan, whose office is handling the case said, “Indian Diplomat Devyani Khobragade indicted on visa fraud charge. Also indicted by jury for making false statements.”

Bharara further confirmed that Khodragade has been accorded diplomatic immunity.



In an indictment, the grand jury said Khobragade had a contract to pay her Indian servant 30,000 rupees ($573) a month -- in line with wages in India, but well below the US minimum wage.

The indictment said Khobragade, on a temporary work visa form for the servant, listed a monthly pay of $4,500. The indictment said the figure "did not match any actual income" -- not that of the servant or that of Khobragade, after some media reports indicated that prosecutors may have mistakenly looked at the diplomat's salary.




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