The family of a maid whose alleged mistreatment set off a major diplomatic row between the United States and India had to be flown to America for their own protection.  That’s according to the Indian-born American federal prosecutor pressing the case against an Indian diplomat in New York City.

“Some focus should perhaps be put on why it was necessary to evacuate the family and what actions were taken in India” against them, said US Attorney Preet Bharara, referring to India’s legal retaliation against the maid’s family in India in attempts “to silence her” and to compel her to return to the country. 

Authorities say 39-year old Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade brought the maid over to New York with promises of a 40-hour workweek and a high salary.  But when the woman got to America, her pay was a fraction of what was promised.  Prosecutors allege Khobragade drew up two contracts for the maid, one to meet American labor requirements, and the second to reflect what was actually happening.

Although Indian nationalists are expressing outrage over Khobragade’s arrest, it turns out that Indians in America at least initially did what it could to help the maid, Sangeeta Richard.  When she fled the Khobragade residence, she was able to rely on on the kindness of strangers within the Indian community in New York City, and even was cared for at one point by a Sikh temple.  Eventually, Richard liaised with an NGO that has an anti-trafficking program. 

India has claimed that elements of Khobragade’s arrest are out of the norm, including a strip search that is standard operating procedure in the US.  And federal agents deny Khobragade’s claim of a cavity search.  US Attorney Bharara notes that Khobragade was allowed to keep her cell phone, on which she made several calls throughout her custody.

India is demanding the case against Khobragade be dropped, and is pushing that through the US State Department.  But the Justice Department appears to be holding strong.