NEW DELHI: India has welcomed the dismissal of visa fraud charges against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade by a US court on Wednesday while hoping that further progress in this matter will be in consonance with international norms and conventions. Ms Khobragade’s arrest and strip search in New York last year for alleged visa fraud had led to a bitter diplomatic row between India and the US and caused a serious setback in bilateral ties. Its resonance remains with India which has been left with a strong sense of outrage and betrayal by the US authorities in the case.
Speaking to this newspaper following the ruling, the diplomat said: “I am just happy that this indictment has been dismissed. I hope they throw the whole case out because the entire thing is based on falsities. But the US authorities can come up with a fresh indictment. We have to see how this pans out.” The diplomat further said: “Now, of course, the government can send me back to a US posting, but it will be up to the US to grant me a visa immunity.”
Ms Khobragade’s husband and two daughters are still back in the US and are expected to join her in India shortly. The MEA stated on Thursday that it welcomed the ruling. MEA spokes person Syed Akbaruddin further said, “The judgement doesn’t consider the merits of the case or our well known position, including on the admissibility of the arrest of Devyani.”
