Angry MEA fires Devyani Khobragade - puts her on 'compulsory wait'

     The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has relieved Devyani Khobragade from her duties as Director in the Development Partnership Division of the MEA & has also placed her under 'compulsory wait'. Devyani, former Deputy Consul General of India in New York, was arrested in the US on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid and released on a $250,000 bond. The Ministry has now reprimanded her for giving an interview, without prior permission from the MEA, during which she talked about her arrest in USA. On whether she had sought permission for the interview and if the MEA had given the permission, MEA's Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, "No on both accounts". The female diplomat also has vigilance inquiry pending against her which was initiated by MEA following her arrest in USA.