A top diplomat at India's consulate in Manhattan who lobbies for women's rights has been busted by the feds — after allegedly mistreating her female nanny.
Devyani Khobragade, India's 39-year-old deputy consul general for political, economic, commercial and women's affairs, was busted Thursday for allegedly helping to submit fake documents to the US State Department saying she was paying the woman $4,500 per month — when, in reality, the caregiver received only $573 monthly, or a measly $3.31 an hour.
In an April interview with The Indian Panorama, a weekly Manhattan-based newspaper, Khobragade claimed that she's a strong advocate for "underprivileged" women's rights.
She added that she hoped someday to persuade the US government to make it easier for Indian nationals to apply for work visas.
"We are trying to safeguard the interests of Indians who are highly specialized and skilled by increasing the number of [non-immigrant] applications that can be accepted from Indian applicants," said Khobragade, who is married to a philosophy professor and has two young daughters.
Khobragade hired her employee, an Indian national, in November 2012 and used her as a babysitter and housekeeper at her Manhattan home until June.
The diplomat is accused of telling the woman to lie on her visa application to get to the United States and say she was going to be paid the higher amount.
Then, Khobragade allegedly had the woman sign a second, under-the-radar contract that noted the nanny's monthly salary including overtime — the much smaller amount.
The nanny and her husband, who were not named, are serving as witnesses in the case.
"This type of fraud on the United States and exploitation of an individual will not be tolerated," said Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara in a statement.
Khobragade was charged with one count each of visa fraud and making false statements. She faces up to 15 years behind bars.
She pleaded not guilty before a magistrate judge in Manhattan federal court and was released on $250,000.
Khobragade's lawyer, Daniel Arshack, said he plans to claim diplomatic immunity for his client.
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