Devyani Khobragade gets exemption from personal appearance in US court

NEW DELHI: India and the US on Monday inched towards a resolution of the standoff over Devyani Khobragade’s status, with the diplomat being exempted from a personal appearance at a New York court hearing on visa fraud charges as well as receiving United Nations accreditation, taking her one step closer to full diplomatic immunity.

The US embassy in Delhi asked for more time to adhere to retaliatory measures taken by the Indian government. Monday was the deadline for the surrendering of ID cards by US diplomats as well as Indian staff working at the embassy and consulates. They had also been directed to furnish staff salary details and visa details.

India also demanded information on salaries paid to domestic staff employed by US diplomats in India. “We are reviewing all requests we have received from the government of India.

The US embassy in New Delhi has provided interim responses to India’s diplomatic notes,” a senior US Embassy official told ET. India had earlier decided to issue new ID cards that entitle them to benefits similar to the ones given to Indian diplomats in the US.

It took a tough stand to show that it means business and special privileges to diplomats are based on reciprocity, government officials said. Khobragade, who was arrested on December 12 in New York, was transferred by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to India’s permanent mission at the UN in New York to give her full diplomatic immunity.

Her UN accreditation will be followed by US State Department accreditation and a diplomatic ID for which papers have already been submitted, officials said. Khobragade is expected to get her diplomatic ID after the Christmas break. As a consular employee, Khobragade did not have full diplomatic immunit y u n like her colleagues in embassies.