US refuses to drop charges against Indian diplomat

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US state department has announced that it will not drop charges against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade.

Her arrest last week led to a huge diplomatic row between US and India. Delhi had ordered a series of reprisals against the US. Security barricades around the US embassy in the city were removed and a visiting US delegation was snubbed by senior Indian politicians and officials.

Ms Khobragade was arrested in New York on suspicion of visa fraud and making false statements in the visa application for her Indian housekeeper. She was accused of underpaying her Indian maid.

Khobragade has denied all the charges and was later released on bail.

India demanded an apology from the US over her alleged “humiliation”.

Khobragade was handcuffed and strip-searched last Thursday after a complaint from her maid, Sangeeta Richard.

Khobragade in turn accused Richard of theft and attempting to blackmail her.