Indian diplomat treated housekeeper ‘like a slave’

In India, Devyani Khobragade advocated for women's rights. But in New York, she was a slave driver, says the family of Khobragade's housekeeper.

Consular official Khobragade worked domestic servant Sangeeta ­Richard from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, "tantamount to keeping a person in slavery-like conditions or keeping a person in bondage," Richard's husband, Philip, said in court papers filed in Delhi, ­India.

"Even though the contract stipulated that Sunday would be an off day, she worked from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., minus two hours for church . . . She worked from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, as well," Philip ­Richard said.

And the housekeeper's daughter, Jennifer Richard, wrote to US officials last summer that her mom "used to sound unhappy whenever she talked to us on the phone. She asked Devyani to send her back to India, but Devyani refused her request."

The complaints from ­Richard's family were reported by Outlook India.

Sangeeta Richard

Khobragade, 39, is widely portrayed by India's media and political establishment as a victim for having been arrested and strip-searched by federal authorities ­earlier this month.

But months before she was charged, Khobragade's father, Uttar, also a diplomat, tried to muzzle the complaints by Richard's family, Outlook India ­reported.

Earlier this year, Uttar Khobragade sent police on a late-night visit to the home of Richard's family in India.

"There were five policemen. From that day onwards police has [sic] started calling my father, my brother and me as well," Richard's daughter wrote to the US State Department in July.

"He [Uttar Khobragade] said to my father that he would destroy our future and not let my father continue with his job anymore."

India Saturday upgraded Khobragade's status from a consular official to a member of the nation's UN delegation.

Indian officials say transferring Khobragade to the UN gives her more diplomatic protection from arrest.

A State Department spokeswoman declined to say whether the ploy would work in Khobragade's favor .

With Post Wire Services

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