Devyani Khobragade, India's deputy consul general in New York, was arrested on December 12, 2013, for allegedly underpaying her housekeeper and committing visa fraud. Khobragade promised to pay Sangeeta Richard the U.S. minimum wage but reportedly paid her far less. This led to charges of visa fraud and false statements, carrying significant penalties.
The arrest, including a strip-search, has triggered outrage in India, with officials calling the treatment “deplorable” and “barbaric.” Protests erupted outside the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, and India retaliated by removing diplomatic privileges from U.S. officials.
U.S. authorities defended the arrest, stating it followed legal procedures, but Secretary of State John Kerry expressed regret, aiming to prevent the issue from damaging U.S.-India relations. Both governments are working to manage the diplomatic fallout from this incident.