Washington: Expelled Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, in effect, has been barred entry into the US, with the State Department saying her name would be placed in visa and immigration lookout systems to prevent routine issuance of visa.
Read more: India expels US diplomat in a tit-for-tat
Khobragade's departure from the US, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said, does not change the charges against the 39-year-old diplomat.
"Her name would be placed in visa and immigration lookout systems to prevent the routine issuance of any future visa and upon her departure a warrant may be issued for her arrest," she said.
From the comments made by the State Department spokesperson, it is clear that Khobragade is being virtually treated as a 'persona non grata' and may be permitted to visit the US only to subject herself to the jurisdiction of court.
Read here: Devyani Khobragade moves US court
Khobragade, married to an Indian-origin American national, has two daughters, aged 6 and 3, who are now likely to shift to India.
The US has said that Khobragade, who has returned to New Delhi, no longer enjoys immunity and an arrest warrant might be issued against her.
"Prior to her (Khobragade) departure, it was conveyed to her and to the government of India that she is not permitted to return to the United States except to submit to the jurisdiction of the court."
On Thursday, Khobragade was indicted in a New York court on two counts of visa fraud and misrepresentation of facts.
"The charges remain in place. There are processes that are standard processes in each of these cases, which we were abiding by throughout this process," the State Department spokesperson insisted.
Arrested on December 12, Khobragade was strip-searched and held with criminals, triggering a row between the two sides with India retaliating by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps.
Next: India insists US drop charges against diplomat
India insists US drop charges against diplomat
New Delhi: India on Saturday insisted that the US should drop the charges of visa fraud against its diplomat Devyani Khobragade, who has returned here after being expelled by the American authorities.
Khobragade, who was arrested in New York on December 12 and returned home yesterday, was not guilty of any wrongdoing, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said.
Meanwhile, Khobragade met Khurshid and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh here and told them about her ordeal. She also thanked them for their support.
American diplomat Wayne May, Chief of the embassy’s diplomatic security contingent, who was expelled by India in a tit-for-tat action, was readying to leave. He had been given about 48 hours yesterday by Indian government to do so.
Defending India's stand on the issue, Khurshid told Karan Thapar for CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate that India will continue pressing for dropping of visa fraud charges against Khobragade and made it clear that there was no rethink on restoring extra privileges to American diplomats here.
Asserting that Khobragade was not guilty of wrongdoings as charged by the US authorities, Khurshid said efforts would be on to 'clean up things completely' to the satisfaction of both the sides.
Describing Khobragade episode as a 'mini crisis', the minister also defended India's decision to ask the US Embassy here to stop commercial activities from within its premises and withdrawal of the extra privileges, saying "No, there wasn't retaliation. I think it was an appropriate response not a retaliation."
Asserting that India should not be seen extending more privileges to one country and less to others, he said, "We did what really is the formal procedures that apply to everybody.
"If they were friends, taking extra concessions, those extra concessions may have been discretionary given to them from time to time. "But when you take stock of what are our entitlements and what are your obligations then it becomes important that you put everything in line."
Khobragade refused to comment on the episode involving her. "No comments. I am really thankful for all your support.... I cannot make any comment. The government will speak for me. My lawyer will speak for me," she said.
Khobragade returned after she was indicted in a visa fraud case by a grand jury in New York, where she was arrested and later released on a bail of USD 250,000.
Asked whether India erred in not calling back the diplomat when the US indicated to it about pursuing the case against Khobragade, Khurshid replied in the negative saying such an action by the US authorities was not at all anticipated.
"It was not a wrong judgement at all. If there was a wrong judgement then why would have I heard Secretary Kerry say that he regretted what had happened. Why would somebody in a position like his say that I regret for what happened," the minister said.
Khurshid said the 'content' and 'basic core' of the relationship between India and US were very strong and they will try to resolve the issue amicably. He also stressed on the need to respect the international treaties and conventions. When referred to Khobragade's husband and children being American citizens, Khurshid said the US should consider that.
