Sangeeta Richard, the domestic worker whose allegations led to diplomat Devyani Khobragade's arrest in the US
Sangeeta Richard, whose allegations of low wages and exploitation led to the Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade's arrest in the US last week, had reportedly praised her employer in a diary entry, which has been made public by the diplomat's family.
The diary entry, posted on Facebook by Ms Khobragade's family, reads like a letter from Ms Richard and quotes her as saying that she did not feel like a domestic help, and her employers were nice to her. (
Read: Sangeeta Richard governed by Indian laws not American, India told US)
It seems to have been written around the time Sangeeta Richard arrived in the US, and according to the diplomat's family, contradicts her complaint to the US authorities. (
Read: No special treatment to US diplomats at airports)
"The whole family is very nice. I don't feel that I am their domestic help. The children call me 'tai' (aunt). Madam is also quite nice and keeps smiling all the time. Sir is quite sensible. He takes care of things so it gives me a lot of free time," reveals the written entry, said to be from Ms Richard's diary.
She also writes that she was given a separate room on the ground floor of their house, and Ms Khobragade's older daughter stayed in the room next to hers.
"I pray to my mother for this blessing before sleeping every night," she writes.
The US has charged Ms Khobragade with lying on the visa papers for Sangeeta Richard - who worked for the diplomat for nine months till June - and making her work a 40-hour week at just three dollars an hour, far less than $9.75 an hour promised in an agreement. (
Read: No withdrawal of charge, says US)
Ms Richard's lawyer Dana Sussman has alleged that the diplomat had "no intention" of paying her help fair wages and overtime. "US laws apply to everyone. Ms Richard was not given paid leave or health insurance. She worked seven days a week with a few hours off on Sunday," Ms Sussman said. (
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India has accused US authorities of conspiracy and immigration fraud by allowing Sangeeta Richard's family to move to America. Ms Richard's husband and two children flew out to the United States on December 10, just two days before the senior consular officer's arrest.