Devyani Khobragade case: Preet Bharara opposes indictment deadline extension plea

He said while his office remains open to continuing the plea discussions as the case proceeds, "the discussions are simply not at a stage that merits a continuance of the preliminary hearing."

"Moreover, the plea discussions can continue following indictment of the case. Accordingly, the Government is not seeking an extension of the deadline for indictment and therefore there is no motion for the Court to decide," Bharara said.

"At any rate, as the Court knows, the timing under which the Government seeks an indictment is in the discretion of the Government, and the defendant cannot alter that," he said.

A 1999-batch IFS officer, 39-year-old Khobragade was arrested on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her domestic help Sangeeta Richard. She was released on a $250,000 bond.

India retaliated by downgrading privileges of a certain category of US diplomats among other steps last month.