The family of Sangeeta Richard, the former maid of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, has alleged that they were frightened on several occasions as demands were made on them to bring the domestic worker back to India.

A report in New York Times quoted a person close to Richard's family as describing several episodes that frightened her family members.

In one case, Richard's husband Philip, while bicycling with one of his children, was confronted by a man with a gun who demanded that his wife return home, the report said.

Richard's husband said he had been called more than once by Khobragade's father, who asked him to make his wife return to India, the person said.

In another instance, Richard's husband was interrogated by the police in India about his wife's whereabouts in the US, the report said.