Washington: US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday called India's National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and expressed his regret over the arrest and strip search of Indian Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade in New York City.
State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Marie Harf said Kerry called Menon, who has slammed the diplomat's treatment as, in his words, "despicable and barbaric."
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Sujata signh spoke to US Under Secretary Wendy Sherman over the issue.
Devyani Khobragade was accused of submitting false documents to obtain a work visa for her Manhattan housekeeper.
Harf said Kerry believes it's important for foreign diplomats serving in the United States to be treated with respect.
She said Kerry expressed his regret and said he hoped the incident would not damage the close relationship the US has with India.
Earlier in the day, India alleged that the arrest of Devyani could have been a US conspiracy.
Six days after Devyani's shocking arrest in New York, the incident witnessed a dramatic twist following India's allegations against the US for the arrest of Devyani in an alleged case of visa fraud related to her domestic help Sangeeta Richards. With the New York publicly arresting, strip searching and locking Devyani up with common criminals, India shifted her to the United Nations Permanent Mission in New York to ensure diplomatic immunity.
Devyani will have to apply for UN accreditation which in turn will need US State Department's approval but the Ministry of External Affairs sees no obstacle in it. Now she will get full diplomatic immunity, not the limited one as a consular official.
The MEA while pointing out that the US should have handled the matter quietly and not publicly arrested, strip searched and put Devyani in a lockup with common criminals said that summons in the case should have been sent through diplomatic channels.
(With additional information from AP)
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