<p>The US has dismissed as a hoax a video purportedly showing CCTV footage of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade's strip search after her arrest, saying it is a "dangerous and provocative fabrication".<br /><br /></p>.<p>"This video, which we are aware of, is absolutely not footage of Ms Khobragade. We would call it a dangerous and provocative fabrication," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said yesterday.<br /><br />The video circulated on social media shows officials purportedly strip searching a woman in custody. The woman is seen screaming during the search.<br /><br />"This hoax video, which I think has appeared on some news websites without obviously confirming its authenticity, because it's not, we find it deeply troubling, irresponsible and reckless and condemn, again, this dangerous fabrication. I want to make very clear this is not video of her," Harf said.<br /><br />The 1999-batch IFS officer, who was Deputy Consul General in New York, was arrested last month for allegedly making false declarations in a visa application for her maid. She was released on a USD 250,000 bond.<br /><br />The 39-year-old diplomat was strip searched and held with criminals, triggering a row between India and the US. India retaliated by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps last month.<br /><br />Harf said the State Department had spoken with the US Marshals Service about the video and officials had confirmed that it was not genuine.<br /><br />"They confirm that the footage in question does not depict US marshal employees, obviously that the search methods depicted in the video are not US Marshals' policy. I haven't watched the video myself. But I want to be very clear in saying this is not how we do things here," she said.</p>
<p>The US has dismissed as a hoax a video purportedly showing CCTV footage of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade's strip search after her arrest, saying it is a "dangerous and provocative fabrication".<br /><br /></p>.<p>"This video, which we are aware of, is absolutely not footage of Ms Khobragade. We would call it a dangerous and provocative fabrication," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said yesterday.<br /><br />The video circulated on social media shows officials purportedly strip searching a woman in custody. The woman is seen screaming during the search.<br /><br />"This hoax video, which I think has appeared on some news websites without obviously confirming its authenticity, because it's not, we find it deeply troubling, irresponsible and reckless and condemn, again, this dangerous fabrication. I want to make very clear this is not video of her," Harf said.<br /><br />The 1999-batch IFS officer, who was Deputy Consul General in New York, was arrested last month for allegedly making false declarations in a visa application for her maid. She was released on a USD 250,000 bond.<br /><br />The 39-year-old diplomat was strip searched and held with criminals, triggering a row between India and the US. India retaliated by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps last month.<br /><br />Harf said the State Department had spoken with the US Marshals Service about the video and officials had confirmed that it was not genuine.<br /><br />"They confirm that the footage in question does not depict US marshal employees, obviously that the search methods depicted in the video are not US Marshals' policy. I haven't watched the video myself. But I want to be very clear in saying this is not how we do things here," she said.</p>