US prosecutor defends treatment of Indian diplomat

A right-wing Indian Hindu activist wearing a mask depicting US President Barack Obama takes part in a protest near the US Embassy in New Delhi

A US attorney has defended the treatment of an Indian diplomat who was strip-searched after her arrest last week on charges of underpaying her nanny.

The case has strained US-Indian relations.

Manhattan AttorneyPreet Bharara, in an unusually lengthy written statement in a pending case, said he wanted to clear up the "misinformation" surrounding the arrest of diplomat Devyani Khobragade.

He questioned why there was more sympathy for Ms Khobragade than her alleged victim.

"Ms Khobragade was accorded courtesies well beyond what other defendants, most of whom are American citizens, are accorded," Mr Bharara said.

He added that his sole motivation was to "hold accountable anyone who breaks the law - no matter what their societal status and no matter how powerful, rich or connected they are."

He acknowledged that Ms Khobragade had been "fully searched" by a female deputy marshal after her arrest.

"This is standard practice for every defendant, rich or poor, American or not," said Mr Bharara.

Mr Bharara was born in India, raised in New Jersey and has built a reputation as "The Sheriff of Wall Street" for his prosecution of insider trading cases.

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US prosecutor defends treatment of Indian diplomat