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TEXT: MEA statement on Devyani Khobragade

January 10, 2014 08:39 IST

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade has left for India from the US, said the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday morning. This came after she was indicted on two counts of visa fraud and making false statements.

This is the full statement of the MEA on the latest in the case relating to Devyani Khobragade:

Dr Devyani Khobragade, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, was accorded on January 8, 2014 the privileges and immunities of a diplomatic envoy under the terms of Section 15 of the Headquarters Agreement between the United Nations and the United States.

At the same time, the US Government requested the Government of India to waive the immunity of Counsellor Khobragade.

On January 9, 2014, the Government of India declined to do so and transferred Counsellor Khobragade to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

At the time of her departure for India, Counsellor Khobragade reiterated her innocence on charges filed against her.

She affirmed her gratitude to the Government of India, in particular to the External Affairs Minister, and the people of India, as also the media, for their strong and sustained support during this period.

She also affirmed her determination to ensure that the episode would not leave a lasting impact on her family, in particular, her children, who are still in the United States.

Full text of the jury indictment

The exhibits submitted by US prosecutors

US Attorney Preet Bharara's letter to the New York court