Maid could be CIA agent, says Khobragade's father

Devyani Khobragade was arrested and handcuffed in public in New York on visa fraud charges

Uttam Khobragade, former IAS officer and father of Devyani Khobragade, India's deputy consul general in New York, today alleged her daughter's former maid Sangeeta Richards could be a "CIA agent".

He said her daughter had been made a "scapegoat" and the possibility of a conspiracy behind the visa fraud allegations against her could not be ruled out.

Stating that the family would get justice only after the "false charges" against Devyani were dropped, he said Sangeeta Richards could be a "CIA agent".

US authorities had last week arrested Devyani on the charge of providing false information in her maid's visa application, causing a major row between the two countries. She was later released on a bond.

"Going by the developments that have taken place over the last one year, the government of India feels that it appears to be a conspiracy," Khobragade said at a press conferernce with Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athawale.

"Also from the given circumstances, we suspect that Sangeeta Richards is an agent of the CIA," Khobragade said.

"We were made scapegoat in the whole case. Devyani is a brave woman and she has been performing all her duties regularly."

Athawale said the case was bogus and the maid could be "CIA agent". "Government should probe this angle," he said.

Athwale said "I appeal to all my party workers that till the charges framed against Devyani are not dropped, they should continue the agitation.