A federal judge on Wednesday rejected the request by a lawyer of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade to extend the January 13 deadline for a preliminary hearing of the visa fraud case against Khobragade .
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan denied Khobragade’s lawyer, Daniel Arshack’s plea to delay the proceedings and extend the deadline of January 13 by which a preliminary hearing must be held.
According to Arshack, the delay was sought as the deadline would negatively interfere with plea negotiations with the government.
Prosecutor Preet Bharara has opposed the delay and argued that plea discussions can continue following indictment in the case.
Indian Deputy consul-general in New York, Khobragade was arrested on December 12 on charges of visa fraud and underpaying her nanny.
