In an email to this newspaper, Uttam Khobragade, a retired Maharashtra government bureaucrat, said his daughter is being wrongfully charged for fraud committed by some other because as per the warning on the online visa application web page of the DS 160 form (application form for non immigrant visa), it is the person who electronically signs and submits the application who is responsible for the information provided (even if someone else assisted in preparing the application).
Also, the person who has signed and submitted the application is liable for prosecution under the section 28 United States Code 1746. Hence it is Sangeeta Richard (the nanny) and probably the officer who interviewed her who have committed the fraud, if any, on United States, Khobragade argued.
In observations made in his "personal capacity as a student of law and practitioner of law for last thirty years ... after scrutinizing all papers available to me including the deposition made by the lead investigator in the case in NY," Khobragade said the application for the visa was signed and submitted bySangeeta Richard to the US consulate and she alone went for the interview conducted by the US consulate officials.
Devyani Khobragade does not know what transpired between the US official and Sangeeta Richard at the time of the visa interview and what documents were submitted by Sangeeta Richard to the US authorities, he maintained, adding that his daughter "has nothing to do with the entire visa process except that she helped Sangeeta Richard by typing the information provided by her on her computer for electronic submission to the US authorities."
Khobragade said Devyani did not submit a single document nor made any statement to the US authorities for the visa of Sangeeta Richard. The said agreement/employment contract between the two, which is being referred to, is not a statement under oath. It is a proper contract signed between two Indian citizens in Delhi, and any violation thereof is in domain of civil law and no criminality is involved.
Khobragade, who is reported to be considering visiting New York to support his daughter, also maintained that this agreement/contract is not a part of DS160 but a supporting document, and it is not the only document on the basis of which the visa is issued.
"The entire circumstances indicate that Devyani was not even a remote party to the so-called visa fraud, if at all committed," Khobragade argued, alleging that statement issued by the US prosecutor indicates that she was "illegally detained to terrorize her and force her to not pursue the arrest of Ms Sangeeta Richard against whom a warrant has been issued In New Delhi."
The Khobragade version of the story is that Sangeeta Richard was fine with the household in New York till such time she developed a desire to become a permanent resident of the US. When Devyani said she could not help her in this regard, the nanny built up a case using the contractual arrangement she had agreed to in India to her advantage.
Who is Devyani Khobragade?
Devyani Khobragade is in a hot soup following her arrest in New York City today on charges of Visa fraud.
If you’re wondering Who the heck is Devyani Khobragade?, here are the essential facts:
1. Devyani is undoubtedly the hottest looking officer in the entire Indian Foreign Service. To put it politely, most Indian diplomats look like the cat unloaded last night’s dinner on their faces. Thank God for an exception like Devyani!
2. Devyani is 39-years-old, and, if I may say so, looks not a day older than 19. Devyani makes Katrina, Kareena, Sonakshi, Meenakshi et al look like hags!
3. Devyani is a fan of Hollywood star Jim Carrey and follows him on her Twitter account. I must say Devyani has good taste. I’d have committed harakiri if she were ‘following’ Salman Khan or one of the other Bollywood chutiyas!
4. Devyani belongs to the Scheduled Caste (Dalit) community, a priceless advantage in Modern India since it allows community members to get into medical schools, civil services, IITs and IIMs even if they have poor grades.
5. Devyani joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1999. With postings in Germany, Pakistan, New Delhi and New York City, Devyani is a veteran of the diplomatic corps.
6. I was sure after seeing Devyani’s svelte figure that the lady practiced Yoga. And indeed the lady lists Yoga as one of her interests!
7. Devyani Khobragade is a Deputy Consul General for Political, Economic, Commercial and Women’s Affairs at the Consulate General of India in New York City. I bet even you schmucks already knew that.
8. If I were to guess Devyani’s vital stats, I’d say: No Comments.
9. Devyani studied at St. Joseph’s Convent School, Jalgaon, Maharashtra. That’s what I call General Knowledge, priceless information valuable to moving ahead in life!
10. If I were a Bollywood director, in a heartbeat I’d have picked Devyani for a movie titled, ahem, Devyani – Dil ki Rani.
11. Devyani must either be very good in her work or well connected because the NYC Consulate posting is a plum job in the Indian Foreign Service.
12. Devyani probably is a big fan of Vada Paav and Samosa Chaat, popular street food in Mumbai since she hails from the city (the lady was born in Tarapore).
13. Devyani Khobragade’s husband is a Professor of Philosophy.
14. Devyani is doing poorly on Twitter with just 35 followers! Disgusting! Even that duffer Abhishek Bachchan has 3.26 million followers. And Bollywood bad boy Salman Khan has 5.7 million followers hanging on to every piece of nonsense dropping from his lips. Seriously, Indians have poor taste. If I had tons of money, I’d buy a billion ‘followers’ for Devyani!
15. Devyani’s last Tweet (December 3, 2013) – I am a helping to change the way the world sees arts education (sic). “a helping“ – I want to know her English teacher’s name! BTW, wonder who’s ‘a helping’ Devyani now?
16. Want Devyani’s e-mail address? I’m not gonna hand it out.
17. Devyani won a scholarship to UK’s Chevening Rolls-Royce Science and Innovation Leadership Program in 2012. This gal is one smart lady, I tell you! Not like you schmucks.
18. Devyani’s father Uttam Khobragade is a retired IAS officer from Maharashtra. Big shot father, big shot daughter.
19. Like Devyani, her father Uttam Khobragade also landed in a big controversy (Adarsh Housing Society scandal).
20. Devyani’s uncle Dr. Ajay Gondane too serves in the Indian diplomatic corp as an IFS officer. Ajay is currently High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea.
21. Like Uncle, Like Niece! Devyani’s uncle Ajay Gondale also served as Deputy Consul General in the Indian Consulate at New York, as recently as 2010.
22. Devyani is a medical doctor.
23. Devyani has two daughters, six and three.
24. Devyani’s first posting was in Germany and her most challenging posting in Pakistan. How can Pakistan not be challenging in anything. Heck, Pakistan’s very existence is challenging to India, Afghanistan, USA and even to itself!
25. Devyani’s profile on a conference web site says she wishes to contribute towards Dalit and gender equality in her country, and remains engaged with these issues. But the complaint against Devyani filed in a NYC court alleges she paid her Indian maid $3.31 per hour far, far, far less than the minimum wage in New York City.
26. Devyani did her MBBS at Seth G.S Medical College and K.E.M Hospital, Parel in Mumbai.
27. If Devyani is convicted/found guilty, she’ll be the first Indian diplomat in the U.S. to go to prison!
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