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Long sentences in store for desi couple involved in slavery

From Santosh On 11 April 2008 View Comments

Remember the desi couple, Varsha and Mahender Sabhnani, who got into trouble for keeping slaves? (1,2) (You heard that right, slaves in the 21st century)

Varsha Sabhnani accused of slaveryimg: via NewsDay

After their day in court, feds have recommended that Varsha Sabhnani get 30 years to life in prison and Mahender Sabhnani serve between 12 to 15 years. [Main Story]

The defense attorneys contend that these sentences are too harsh and they point to the probation officers, who apparently recommended much shorter prison terms (9 to 11 years and for Varsha and 5 1/2 to 7 years for her husband, Mahender). Varsha Sabhnani seems to have been recommended a longer sentence because she has been accused of using a minor to commit a crime and playing the role of a ring leader.

Their sentencings are on May 30th for Varsha Sabhnani and Mahender on June 6.

What do you think? Are the recommended sentences too long or just right or too short? Anyone with professional or working knowledge of the law please feel free to chime in.

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  • spee
    I am glad about this sentence. I have seen pictures of the torture marks on nytimes. This should serve as a lesson to the people who even think about resorting to such behavior with people who work for them. I have been appalled by how desis at position of power behave with their underlings or servants.

    But on the otherhand, I didn't like nytimes pointing out that they were hindu sindhis etc. Was that information necessary ? That would only incite more hatred towards that community and Indians in general.
  • Khumar
    She received what she deserved. Maybe in India you can get away with treating people like this but not in the United States. Her and her husband should rot in prison and be made to do hard labor.
  • Runa
    People
    Please keep it clean. The Sabhnanis had their day in court and justice - however harsh it may be - has been dispensed.

    Comments such as :
    Bloody desis


    add zero value to this discussion
  • Mike Savage
    Is there any proof that all that torture happened? Even if it did, the punishment is way too harsh. If the abuse did happen, punishment is justified to a reasonable extent. 11 years is extremely harsh. The workers could have just walked out of the house, it is not like Varsha is a mafioso. Louis Woodward spent about 6 months in jail after being convicted of the murder of baby Matty Eappen. As for the comments about taxes, most business people evade taxes or use legal tax loopholes such as offshore accounts in Bermuda. So take it easy. Looks like a case of over zealous prosecutors.
  • Sanjay
    Good for them! Bloody desis doing desigiri in the US.
  • Sus
    Her sentence is way too light. What goes around comes around - I hope Varsha gets beaten and cut up the living F*-- out of her in jail. Even then, I am sure the prison abuse she gets wouldn't be nearly as bad as what she had done to the poor maids. She should Rot in hell - she disgusts me. Actually her family should rot in hell for letting this happen.
  • Rae
    Yeah Right That Woman deserves longer than 11 years what's going to happen when she gets out? what if she tries this agin? Yeah we have a great justice syatem!!
  • ds
    I think it is too harsh a sentence. There is also a possibility some of this is made up.
  • T. Varadaraj
    I personally know a couple of these perfume selling types in NYC and they're the most unethical people that I have come across.

    Many of them indulge in cash transactions so income goes under the tax radar. Now I can understand in India you pretend to pay taxes for the services the government pretends to provide but in the U.S., these guys use well-provided civic amenities but don't want to pay for them through taxes. Doesn't compute.

    I am not surprised by what they have done. The law doesn't mean diddly squat to them. It's great to see that they're bought taught otherwise.
  • Finally some Justice
    Life sentence would have been better for such a animal. Hopefully this horrible woman will reap what she sowed on those poor women in prison......
  • Why do these people get away relatively scot-free?

    Because their cases are usually not reported. But I would argue that these are equally if not more heinous a crime, since the wife and kids are dependent in every sense on the man.
    If she gets sentenced to 30 years will this be a landmark judgement for anyone who is physically abused in a similar manner?

    Well that manner is pretty f'ed up. So it should be.

    I think that maybe you could put a limit on anyone who inflicts physical pain on others, sure. But to kill someone's self-worth and totally own and abuse them mentally is probably the more brutal crime.
  • Fair enough, Shlok. Staying on the topic of life sentences for physical abuse and forced labor, some women and children are abused, often for years, in a similar manner by their husbands and fathers. Why do these people get away relatively scot-free? If she gets sentenced to 30 years will this be a landmark judgement for anyone who is physically abused in a similar manner?
  • To quote from the first time you reported this:

    Among other things, both women were scalded with hot water, forced to climb stairs repeatedly, take several cold water showers and eat hot chilies as punishment.


    One human being having that kind of abusive slave-like power over another is terrible enough to make any decent person sick. forget about it. So I think its actually too short a sentence, and too light!
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