India has expressed disappointment over the second indictment of its diplomat Devyani Khobragade by a US grand jury. External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Syed Akbaruddin said in a statement that this has been done despite dismissel of the first indictment and arrest warrant earlier this week.

Terming the step as unnecessary, he said that the case has no merit. He said, any action following the decision will affect efforts on both sides to build the India-US strategic partnership. The spokesperson maintained that the court in the US has no jurisdiction on Khobragade as she has returned to India and government will no longer engage on this case in the US legal system.

Earlier, an arrest warrant was issued today against Devyani Khobragade on visa fraud charges after her fresh indictment by US prosecutors. They accused her of illegally underpaying and exploiting her domestic maid Sangeeta Richard. 39-year-old Khobragade, who was arrested in New York on December 12, has since been transferred to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. She faces arrest if she visits the US where her husband and two children are staying.

The new charges comes two day after a US court dismissed an earlier indictment on Wednesday. The diplomat has refuted the charges against her.