An Indian Foreign Service officer posted with the External Affairs Ministry has been sued by her former domestic help in New York for alleged harassment and enslavement.
Neena Malhotra, who returned from New York about a year back, is currently Director, Southern Division of the Ministry of External Affairs Ministry, a PTI report said.
Malhotra's former domestic help Shanti Gurung says in her lawsuit that she was "essentially kidnapped" from India in 2006 at age 17 and was ordered to give daily massages and perform other chores.
The suit filed on Thursday says Gurung was held in involuntary servitude for more than three years by Malhotra and her husband, Jogesh. The lawsuit seeking unspecified damages says Gurung -- now 21 -- was paid only $ 120 over 40 months, reports the Associated Press.
The lawsuit also alleges that Gurung was made to work 16 hours in a day without holidays and she was often refused food and had to sleep on the floor. Gurung claims Malhotra took away her passport and she was almost held a prisoner at the couple's house.
PTI reports it contacted Malhotra on Saturday but couldn't get a comment. A message left by the Associated Press with the Consulate General of India in Manhattan was not immediately returned. PTI
