- Saturday, April 19, 2025
Devyani Khobragade, who was charged with visa fraud and accused of exploiting her domestic help in the US a decade ago, caused a major diplomatic row between New Delhi and Washington.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN diplomat Devyani Khobragade, who is the country’s current ambassador to Cambodia, recently made the headlines after donning a traditional attire of ‘Khmer Apsara’ (a local goddess of love and dance) on the occasion of the Cambodian New Year and pictures of her unique getup went viral on social media.
The Indian embassy in Cambodia posted on X about Khobragade’s dress saying she admires the Khmer culture and tradition of the country of her posting.
“Ambassador Devyani Khobragade has a deep admiration for Khmer culture and tradition. Embracing the spirit of Khmer New Year, she elegantly dressed as a Khmer Apsara, embodying the rich bond of our civilizations. Wishing all our friends a joyous Khmer New Year celebration,” it said.
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Ambassador Devyani Khobragade has a deep admiration for Khmer culture and tradition. Embracing the spirit of Khmer New Year, she elegantly dressed as a Khmer Apsara, embodying the rich bond of our civilizations. Wishing all our ?? friends a joyous Khmer New Year celebration pic.twitter.com/5SfQ42g5ln
— India in Cambodia (@indembcam) April 13, 2024
However, not everybody appreciated the diplomat, thanks to her controversial past that had even hurt India’s ties with the US.
More than a decade ago, Khobragade, who is an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1999 cadre and has served in a number of countries including Germany, Pakistan and Italy besides the US, was charged with visa fraud by American authorities. She was also accused of giving false statements. She was arrested.
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India and the US also got involved in a diplomatic row after Khobragade, who was then the deputy consul general in the Indian consulate in New York, reportedly alleged that she was strip-searched, swabbed for DNA and put in a cell with drug addicts.
India retaliated at home by removing security barricades from outside the US embassy in New Delhi as it took a slew of measures to pare down the American diplomats’ privileges after the Khobragade issue exploded. The US also pulled out one of its diplomats from the South Asian nation.
The diplomat also landed in another trouble after she was accused of exploiting her domestic help by paying her less than the minimum wage limit in the US. She denied the charges calling them “baseless and false”.
In March 2014, a US court dismissed the indictment against Khobragade. India had turned down the US’s request to waive her diplomatic immunity following which Khobragade returned home.
Many on the internet expressed surprise that the tainted diplomat could still represent India on a foreign soil and did not mince their words about that. Some accused her of using her father’s clout to remain in the prestigious service while others said her caste identity saved her. There were a few who came to her support also.
Here are some reactions that the netizens came up with after seeing Khobragade’s unique attire in Cambodia where she took charge in 2020:
I am amazed at Indian External Affairs Ministry that a woman accused of crime in USA can still become Ambassador and represent India !! @DrSJaishankar
— Sachi (@minder56) April 13, 2024
Yes that's right it can happen because the US is not our Boss. ?
— Pseudo Prophet (@Pseudo_Prophet_) April 14, 2024
That’s why people want to be civil servants. You can break the law, exploit employees leading to a massive diplomatic crisis- but still keep your job and fail upwards.
— Kunal Khattar (@KunalKhattar) April 14, 2024
After her controversy involving the maid, how is she still in service I always wonder. And what is she doing here really. Always finds a weird way to attract attention.
— Nippon Dash (@nippondash) April 14, 2024
Hope she is paying fairly to the house help , not like as past ..
— Mukesh (@mikejava85) April 13, 2024
She is a scam
— dr skinwala ?? (@drpawanbajaj) April 14, 2024
If National Embarrassment has a face.
Isn't her father now a politician affiliated with Ramdas Athawale.— P R (@pra9singh) April 13, 2024
Any serious country would have fired her and started disciplinary proceedings after what she did in the U.S. But here, she has been made an ambassador. The more things change, the more it stays the same. To people like her, laws are like icecream, easily melted.
— Make the economy great again (@plutus_god) April 13, 2024
We apologise to the Combodians for this cultural appropriation (and a sorry one at that). A person like her shouldn't represent India.
— V (@loid_twilight) April 13, 2024
This fraud is still in service? And promoting herself in this cosplay through the official handle of all things? ??♂️
— Viṣṇu (@DocVishnu) April 13, 2024
