The daughter of an Indian diplomat falsely arrested for sending e-mails to a teacher at John Bowne H.S. last year is suing the city for $1.5 million.
Krittika Biswas charges in the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court that the investigation that led to her arrest was a “sham”, and that police lacked evidence to convict her.
The lawsuit also claims that Biswas, then an honors student at the Flushing school, was arrested on trumped-up charges due to a conspiracy “against persons of Southeast Asian Indian descent”.
Biswas was taken from school in handcuffs and spent one night in jail after she was accused of sending profane and threatening e-mails to her teachers.
The charges were dropped the next day, after a male classmate admitted responsibility in the cyber-bullying. The classmate was never arrested or charged in the crimes.
Biswas’ attorney, Ravi Batra, said his client was so traumatized by her arrest that she decided to leave the U.S.
She is currently studying science and engineering in her native India.
Batra told reporters last year that getting a key to the city from Mayor Michael Bloomberg might make it clear “that diplomats are welcome in New York City” and might restore his client’s trust in city officials.
Officials at the city Law Department said they could not comment because they have not yet received the lawsuit.
—Liz Goff