Preet Bharara Takes On New York Governor

Tuesday, 15 April 2014, 01:21 IST
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WASHINGTON: New York's Indian-American prosecutor Preet Bharara, who is known in India for his dogged prosecution of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, has now taken on the state's Governor Andrew M. Cuomo over his decision to shutter an anti-corruption commission as part of a deal with legislators for an ethics package.

Cuomo created the panel "with great fanfare," shuttered it "unceremoniously", said Bharara in a radio interview as cited by

Newsday, and "thinking people wonder why that happened and want to get to the bottom of it."

"I think in the letter I sent to the commission I said there was an appearance that cases were bargained away in exchange for a political deal," said the attorney who hit the headlines in India over the way he pursued the prosecution of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade.

Bharara, an appointee of President Barack Obama, indicated he was troubled by reports of interference in the commission's actions.

"I don't know what the facts are," Bharara was quoted as saying on WNYC's "The Brian Lehrer Show" Thursday.

"What I can tell you is that it's impossible to overstate the importance of independence on the part of any investigative body."

Bharara, Newsday said, wouldn't rule out investigating whether Cuomo or his aides improperly intervened in activities undertaken by the recently shuttered anti-corruption commission.
READ MORE:
Indian-American Professor Convicted Of Defrauding Students
Asian Americans 'Too Busy' To Vote In U.S.


Source: IANS
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