Devyani Khobragade row: Maid’s family also has a story to share

NEW DELHI: While the Indian government has been working feverishly to save Devyani Khobragade from prosecution in the US for visa fraud, a case filed against the diplomat by the husband of her now-absconding maid has caught little attention.

Phillip Richard had alleged that his wife, Sangeeta Richard, was harassed and made to work like a “slave” by India’s former deputy consul general in New York. The Delhi High Court had dismissed Richard’s petition, filed in July, since the alleged offence had happened outside India.

Richard left for the US just days before Khobragade was arrested in New York earlier this month for allegedly making false declarations and violating visa rules to take the maid to the US.

In his petition, Richard had said that his wife was made to work from 6 am to 11 pm. Even on Sundays, which would have been her weekly off according to her contract, she had to work from morning until late in the night, excluding for two hours when she attended church, the petition had said.

According to the pet it ion that was dismissed by the HC, Khobragade had falsely accused Sangeeta of theft and her father, Uttam Khobragade, threatened action against the maid’s family in India. He also alleged that the diplomat had taken Sangeeta’s passport after her arrival in the US in 2012. Sangeeta left Khobragade’s residence in July to buy groceries, but never returned.