Laws and rules are only for little people.
If any proof was ever needed that the rich, powerful and well connected are always beyond the reach of the law, it was provided by NYC Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade’s departure from the U.S. without having to pay for her crime of exploiting her maid Sangeeta Richard and committing Visa fraud.
(There’s some confusion on whether Devyani has already left the U.S. or whether her departure is imminent).
Indian Slave Owner Devyani Khobragade – Unpunished
Rich, Connected & Powerful
A senior officer of the Indian Foreign Service, Devyani Khobragade is a multimillionaire thanks to her rich land holdings spread across multiple states and ownership of prime apartment buildings in India.
The woman is also well connected since her father is a retired officer of the Indian Administration Service.
Other than being strip-searched by the U.S. Marshals, Devyani did not have to pay for the crime of being for all practical purposes a slave owner and committing Visa fraud.
By virtue of her position as a senior IFS officer and her status as a Scheduled Caste a.k.a. Dalit, Devyani is extremely powerful, with strong connections to the Indian bureaucracy and political leadership.
Exhibits E, F and G (see below) filed as attachments to Devyani’s indictment by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara today leave no doubt that Devyani lied to the U.S. on the wages to be paid to her maid Sangeeta Richard.
The two different copies of the employment contracts with her maid Sangeeta and the FIR filed with the Delhi police show Devyani as a liar.
Devyani – Exploitative
Besides portraying Devyani as a liar, the indictment also casts the diplomat as highly exploitative.
Here’s an excerpt from the indictment:
Once in the United States, Khobragade made the Victim [Sangeeta Richard] work often up to 100 or more hours per week without a single full day off, which, based on the promised salary of $573 per month, would result in actual hourly wage of $1.42 per hour or less.
Silver Lining
Even as U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara filed an indictment today, Devyani was provided diplomatic immunity by the U.S. State Department and asked to leave the the United States.
The only silver lining in the whole case is that Devyani Khobragade was strip-searched and the slave, Sangeeta Richard, is getting a Green Card under the Human Trafficking category.
$64,000 Question
The $64,000 question is what has India given to the United States in exchange for not jailing Devyani Khobragade.
A large quid like letting Devyani off the hook must definitely be accompanied by a huge quo.
So will the Indian government come clean on the blandishments it offered to the U.S. to let Devyani Khobragade go so that the country could save face.
Quid pro quo, comprende? 😉
Related Devyani Khobragade Stories:
Devyani Khobragade Indictment Copy
Devyani Khobragade – Indictment Exhibits
Who the Heck is Devyani Khobragade?
Judge Sarah Netburn’s Ruling Denying Devyani’s Request for Delay in Preliminary Hearing
3 Complications in Devyani Plea Deal
Preet Bharara’s Letter to Judge
Indians are Chutiyas – Preet Bharara
Legal Complaint Against Devyani Khobragade
What Likely Happened During Devyani’s Strip Search?
Crime Pays! Indian Slave Owner Devyani Khobragade Escapes Punishment added by SearchIndia.com on
View all posts by SearchIndia.com →
Must be some defense deal through which Amreeka can fill up the coffers of the giant and greedy defense contractors.
Most days I am proud to be an indian.
But days like this I hang my head in shame.
And start googling to check ways and means to dissociate myself with this shithole and it’s parasites like fucking ghobragade (I refuse to learn her shitty last name)
If a normal person (like yourself Mr SI blogger) committed this crime his / her rectum would’ve been resized by now.
Like some elderly dude said in a Hindi movie ” there’s really no hope for india now”
SearchIndia.com Responds:
At least, SI (as an American) can feel happy that my country (USA) will get something out of this shady deal.
But Indians get nothing….They can only moan that they’ve been taken to the cleaners again because of a worthless creature.
Btw where is her husband in this whole sordid episode?
Her useless ****** asshole of a father is banging doors and holding sit ins outside the US embassy in Delhi.
But the supposedly “I get a hardon for a wine bottle *******” husband is nowhere to be seen or heard.
And she still uses her maiden name.
Strange!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Hubby is in Philly educating Americans on political science, philosophy, Red Wine, White Wine, Sangria, Zinfandel, Merlot, Sparkling Wine etc.
Just the kind of priceless knowledge Americans need to succeed in the computer era. 😉
The deal was – you don’t touch is, we don’t touch you.
India had drawn up a list of tax law violations and smuggling activities, which have been going on in the US embassy and consulates in India.
There was no question that a few State Department employees would have squatted in Indian jails, if an unfavorable outcome came out of this.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: There was no question that a few State Department employees would have squatted in Indian jails, if an unfavorable outcome came out of this.
Did you knock your head against the door of NJ Transit or the PATH train on the way home last night? 😉
Get real.
Even after killing a bunch of ‘ISI’ guys in Pakistan, CIA contractors got home safely.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Allen_Davis_incident
And you’re talking of jail term for Americans for tax violations & smuggling in India.
Thanks for the laugh…..I needed it badly….You see, I’ve just returned from the Tamil film Jilla! 😉
You can laugh all you want, but that is what happened!
India is no Pakistan – you need to get real. Nancy Powell already had cancelled her vacation to Nepal to avoid airports. Normally, MMS would have chickened out. But not with elections coming.
India had provided a detailed list of tax violations and smuggling activities to the State Department. This includes:
1) Teachers (family of diplomats) working at American schools in India, but not submitting tax returns
2) Embassies and consulates importing stuff duty-free (meant only for diplomats) and selling it to American citizens in India, who are not diplomats
USA has now lost face from this episode – everyone has now seen how you can commit a grave crime like human trafficking and walk away!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: India is no Pakistan – you need to get real.
At least the Pakistan beggars are getting some arms and $$ from us (as in U.S.) for letting us (U.S.) bomb their country day in and day out via our joy-sticks and drones.
What has Indian gotten from this sordid episode? Nothing but loss of honor and a hefty legal bill running into tens of thousands of dollars.
2. You write: USA has now lost face from this episode
By arresting and stripping Devyani, U.S. has already made its point, and made Indians look like a bunch of impotent clowns who strut on the stage in insane rage but can do nothing beyond that.
3. You are right, India is not Pakistan. Much as I hate to admit it, Paki pigs have a spine, a backbone and balls. Indians have none of the above. We got whipped in 2008 (Mumbai attacks) and all we hanged was one retard.
4. Tax violations and selling a few bottles of Scotch to other Americans in Delhi are not even petty crimes.
5. You write: Normally, MMS would have chickened out. But not with elections coming.
That chicken Manmohan Singh has been ‘brain-dead’ for five years…just that it’s not been disclosed to the Indian people yet.
With or without Devyani’s stripping, Congress’ fate is sealed in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
A 12-month-old party, AAP, whipped Congress right in Delhi. I bet Rahul Gandhi’s urinary tract has been blocked out of fear since the Delhi poll results were declared.
BTW, now that you are back fresh from watching Jilla, why doesn’t Preet Bharara prosecute Indian film-makers who impose such painful atrocities on Americans?
How are they able to repeat this time and again and walk away free 🙂 ?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
As Preet Bharara’s “Under-Cover Adviser” on all things Indian, American and Indian-American, I’m sending him a list of Indian films stars (starting with Priyanka Chopra, Ajith and Abhishek Bachchan) whose faces must be blackened before they’re shown on American screens. 😉
“By arresting and stripping Devyani, U.S. has already made its point, and made Indians look like a bunch of impotent clowns who strut on the stage in insane rage but can do nothing beyond that.”
Now, you are just posturing. If Indians are a bunch of incompetent clowns, Devyani would be behind bars. Facts are facts – Indians have shown they can “do beyond that”. What it has shown is US can be pushed around. India did not have much respect in the world stage anyway, but now the respect for US has gone down!
“Tax violations and selling a few bottles of Scotch to other Americans in Delhi are not even petty crimes”
True if you were living in a law-abiding society, but unfortunately, this is India. They would find a way to jail you, even if you step out of the gate! All they would have to do is go to a magistrate, who would grant them custody for investigation, and the “investigation” would go on, while the accused are in “custody”.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. I’m not posturing…Just relying on facts. What did India do…they withdrew security at the U.S. Embassy in Delhi but quickly brought in more cops than before….They said traffic violations of U.S. Diplomats cars will not be allowed, we won’t let you import liquor…Such pin-pricks are laughable!
2. I doubt Indians have the balls to arrest someone connected with the U.S. embassy or Consulate in India and strip-search him or her. If there’s an arrest warrant against an U.S. diplomat, the Indian arresting officer will beg the U.S. diplomat for an Immigrant Visa a.k.a Sangeeta Richard Visa a.k.a. Human Trafficking Visa. 😉
3. In global politics, whoever has bigger, better weapons calls the shots. Right now, the U.S. is the lord of the Air, Sea and land (bit of pussies here). Indians can’t get even one Defense Contract deal straight without issues. They canceled one more chopper deal last week.
When She returns, you will see Media celebrating her as “Modern Jhansi Rani” or so. Then BJP, Congress will proclaim.that they have no problems in (devayani) joining the party. Then, she will be invited by Women’s Organisations to speak about atrocities of Men. You can also see Mayawati arranging a crowd to give her congratulatory medal. Then Thirumavalavan will write a tamil poem praising her to Goddess and inviting her to his party.
This are some of jokes that will happen in next upcoming months. Unless, Indians receive quality education; they will be continued to be fooled by this incidents.
My another question is no government, political party and media cares about millions of Poor Dalits being oppressed by landlord Hindus in Rural India, then how they formed a issue of her? Are they cruel or dumb?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
I won’t be surprised if Father or/and Daughter jump into the Indian political fray.
Election Slogan? – Devyani, the brave Indian Dalit woman who shed her clothes overseas to protect the honor and dignity of 1.2 billion Indians. 😉
After the cavity search incident, she might even be called Dev-yoni 😉 by US Marshals and Indian Politicians.
I guess you know what it means in Sanskrit.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I guess you know what it means in Sanskrit.
No. Never heard of it!
Please explain with an elaborate 350-word writeup about its genesis, uses, color, effectiveness, dimensions, shapes, elasticity, substitutes, cost (new and old), discounts available, utility as a weapon of mass destruction/mass distraction, pictures (both wide-angle and closeups), and all trademarks and patents related to it so that I may educate myself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoni
One of the meanings is anterior orifice 😉
But reading further, you might also educate yourself on what the upper part and lower part of a Shiva lingam mean.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Invaluable! 😉
Just the kind of ‘knowledge’ I needed on Shani-war (Saturday)!
Devyani kept saying that she will show the Judge her “Immunity”.
She said, I will not go back without showing my “Immunity”.
What does showing one’s “Immunity” mean?
Is it something that happens during a cavity search?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You question: What does showing one’s “Immunity” mean? Is it something that happens during a cavity search?
Sweetie, your question is more profound than: What is the meaning of Life? or What does “Dharma” Mean? or What happens in the “After-Life”
Once Marijuana is legalized in my state, I’ll have a few drags of some choice weed and then, only then will I take a stab at your profound question! 😉
According the BBC World Service that I listened to about an hour ago she has already arrived in India…
SearchIndia.com Responds:
I read in one of the Indian rags that Papa Khobragade has already jumped into the political fray!
Papa Khobragade’s claim to fame – How his daughter sacrificed her izzat (honor) to save the izzat of 1.2 billion Indians!
Seriously! They are making a mountain of the mole hill out of that whole strip search.
Get over it..nobody strip searched her to molest/admire her naked beauty or because she looked good…they strip searched her because its standard procedure! Ugh!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Blame it all on Ved Vyas.
Ever since the lecherous old goat wrote the Mahabharata in which Dushsasana tried to strip Draupadi in the palace court, Draupadi’s trauma became the Indian national trauma, burned dark and deep into our DNA and collective consciousness.
So mention the words “strip” and “woman” in the same sentence and the collective Indian psyche goes berserk and hysterical, more so if the perpetrator is an outsider (in this instance, the U.S.).
Once the hysteria takes over, no Indian cares that in the U.S. strip-search is standard procedure in all arrests related to federal cases.
Ugh….do you really think India gave something in return? What bull crap!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
There’s a reason 99.99% of diplomatic talks are private! 😉
Unsavory details will come out two decades from now when some desperate Political Science professor in Iowa seeking tenure or a Ph.D student in Minnesota writes a thesis on India’s Sacrifices to Rescue Devyani Khobragade – Exclusive New Documents from Declassified U.S. State Department Archives. 😉
HAHA..If Search India is still alive at that time, I am sure we will hear all about the 350 page thesis :D!
Although most diplomatic talks are private, the stronger nation does all the talk and the weaker one is allowed to say either “yes” or “hell yes!” 😉 And that is why it needs to be private.
For the details, We may rely on Wikileaks and the likes (that may come in the future) though.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Thanks to Devyani, Preet Bharara has earned solid name recognition that will stand him in good stead when he seeks higher office (Attorney General??) and gets into the fund-raising game.
Why don’t you cover the stories
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Boy-10-found-dead-inside-Frisco-home-mother-taken-into-custody-242754181.html
http://www.wfsb.com/story/24589635/parents-of-baby-allegedly-killed-by-babysitter-arrested
SI seems to be franatic (sic) about biryani, telugu and most famous stories.
Help yourself.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Depressing desi stories.
With multiple gory incidents involving Indians, I suspect desis are starting to go crazy, cracking under severe stress.
Before issuing H1B, L visas and Green Card Stamping, maybe Indians must also be asked to undergo mental health evaluation.
I’ve been reading about too many Indian whackos lately. 🙁
These days when I see Indians outside, I quickly cross the street to the other side. Who knows what these whackos will do.
I have no fear of dying but my commenters like you would be extremely upset if I don’t respond to their valuable comments. 😉
@ bb1098 – I read those stories as well, but they were nowhere as interesting as the stories Searchindia covers – like Sujatha Guduru, Raghunandan Yandamuri, Devyani Khobragade, Srinivasa Erramilli.
The Erramilli story is not even about murder – but SearchIndia marshals excellent facts and figures and reads 4 federal and local complaints to flesh out the story.
In my opinion the blog is way better than all Indian newspapers and way better than the H1B rags you find in the temples which have quota news on the cover and are full of the uninteresting crime news you suggest or of astrologers out to make a buck.
One thing eludes me – if something happens to my job or H1B, I will go back to India.
Why do these people not have that as an option?
Why do Telugu biddas and biddis continue their lives in US of A until they commit murder, murder-suicide or whatever? Is the love for a US visa so great?
I have never understood this.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: The Erramilli story is not even about murder –
I wonder if you’re aware that in his court filings Erramilli cites bad publicity from SearchIndia.com as one of the reasons why he should not be sent to jail. Honest!
Please read Why Telugu Groper Srinivasa Erramilli Does Not Want to Go to Jail
Original Source: http://www.searchindia.net/images/sib/Erramilli-sentencing-memorandum.pdf
Right now, Erramilli is cooling his heels in the federal penitentiary at Lisbon, Ohio.
2. Fascination of Telugu biddas and biddis (your neologism) for US of A has turned into a mania for which there’s no known cure in allopathy. They ought to give Shivambu Kalpa a try. 😉