While it’s no big news to hear of people ill-treating their helpers, it turns out that some diplomats are hypocrites for doing the same despite advocating women’s rights.
Devyani Khobragade, India’s deputy consul general for political, economic, commercial and women’s affairs was arrested this week for paying her nanny a few measly dollars an hour, and lying about it.
The Indian diplomat who is an advocate for women’s rights is being criminally charged for lying about how much she pays her nanny on her visa application. Khobragade was arrested and handcuffed after dropping off her daughter at a Manhattan school.
She was charged on Thursday for making false statements and for committing visa fraud.
It is reported that the babysitter from India worked for Khobragade in New York for about 7 months. The criminal complaint said the babysitter worked more than 40 hours a week and was paid $3.31 an hour. Khobragade paid her less than $600 a month – $3.31 an hour – despite telling U.S. immigration officials the staffer would be paid $4,500 a month.
Daniel Arshack, defense attorney for Khobragade, says his client is entitled to diplomatic immunity. Khobragade is the deputy consul general for political, economic, commercial and women’s affairs at the Indian Consulate General. Khobragade has repeatedly put herself out there in the press as an advocate for “underprivileged” women’s rights.
Arshack also believes that Khobragade’s arrest might be political, claiming that there’s a political motivation behind the arrest of the mother of two.
Meanwhile in India, the External Affairs Ministry says that the treatment of Khobragade was unacceptable, and will take up the matter “forcefully” through the embassy in Washington.
Because of her diplomatic immunity, Khobragade was freed on US$250,000 bail, but was ordered to surrender all travel documents. The U.S. Attorney for Manhattan said the charges against Khobragade carry a total maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted.
She’s due back in court in January.
