Indian-American community expresses support for Dayal

Santosh Bhardwaj, 45, has accused Dayal of paying her USD 300 a month, making her sleep in a storage closet and asking her for massage.Dayal has dismissed the charges as "complete nonsense".

Indian-American community members who gathered at the City Hall here expressed their disbelief at the charges against Dayal.

"We know Prabhu Dayal from inside and outside," said Ramesh Patel, Chairman for the Federation of Indian Association of the Tri State Area.

"Lady (Bhardwaj) you better pack and go back to India". Patel said that the charges were an "indirect assault on the government of India".Bhardwaj herself has not spoken to the press.

Her lawyer Holly Pfitsch has previously told PTI that the maid is too scared to speak given Dayal's position.

Many of the Dayal's supporters, however, suggested that Bhardwaj is out to make a quick buck.

"The laws of this land are being misused," said Animesh Goenka, head of the National Association of Indians in America.

John L Sampson, New York State Senator, who also spoke briefly, urged that "the process" should be allowed to determine the truth.

Dayal has told the media that Bhardwaj left his services in January 2010 after he did not allow her to work outside to make extra money, which was against her visa regulations.
Dayal has said that the Government of India now needed to take a call on whether to go through a trial route or settle the matter with the State Department.

Meanwhile, the US State Department has said the charges against Dayal constitute a law enforcement matter.

"It's a law enforcement matter, as you know," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters recently.

Legal Aid Society, which is representing Bhardwaj said, that Dayal does not have diplomatic immunity since the subject matter of the case is all private.