(Image source from: MEA orders US embassy to shut down salon)

As the time nears for Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade's formal indictment over visa fraud, New Delhi is coming down hard on the U.S. embassy.

According to Mail Today, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has ordered for the embassy's club to close down and put an end on the sale of duty-free liquor as well.

The commissary in the US Embassy in New Delhi apparently sells duty-free liquor, wine and exotic foreign goods at cheap prices to Western diplomats. Indian officials believe that several non-diplomats and corporate people make duty-free purchases, which is a strict violation of all norms and hence, should be stopped.

"We have a suspicion that the US commissary is making profits by selling duty-free liquor and other items to diplomats from other countries. This must stop immediately," an MEA source told Mail Today.

The second diplomatic note asks the embassy to lock down the American Club, named American Community Support Association (ACSA), situated near its Gate E. The club apparently hosts quite a many recreations like a restaurant, cafeteria, swimming pool, gymnasium, soccer fields, and a wad of other facilities employed by both US diplomats and nationals staying in India.

The note verbale mentions that the US is violating diplomatic protocol by running a beauty salon, restaurant and other facilities, and that these should be shut within 10 days.

The ongoing tussle between India and the US over Devyani Khobragade incident is likely to hurt the diplomatic community the most, it seems. On the other hand, while the note verbales seems clearly motivated by the fallout, MEA officials say the steps are being taken to balance the diplomatic anomaly as the Indian mission in the US has never enjoyed the special diplomatic privileges like the US has been enjoying in India.

AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury