The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on September 25 had issued a directive to deport foreigners who hold a business visa, but are employed in India. All such foreigners have been asked to leave the country by October 31. The directive was issued in the wake of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s prying into antecedents of David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, suspected of links with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, who allegedly planned terror strikes in India and Denmark. The two are now in the custody of the FBI. Among Rana’a many businesses is an immigration service, with which Headley said he worked as consultant.
“The MHA communique of September 25 points a finger of suspicion at foreigners in India who hold a business visa, but seek employment. Changes in the visa status cannot be done after arrival, but once these people change their vocation, there is cause for suspicion as they hold a business visa but engage in other work. The FBI issues warnings from time to time, seeking that India watch foreigners who change their visa status after reaching Indian shores,” sources said.
The MHA communique to all Foreign Registration Offices (FROs) throughout the country said that a large number of foreigners were found to be violating conditions of the visa by engaging in employment despite possessing a business visa. All such people have been asked to leave the country by October 31.
Among the categories of foreigners who fall within the purview of the communiqué are: those in India to establish industries or business ventures; those visiting with the purpose of exploring the possibility of setting up business or industry here; and those intending to purchase or sell industrial products in India.
“Bangalore has about 140 foreigners holding business visas. Nearly half of them were given exit visas and sent back to their own countries,” an officer said, adding that the process continues.
The MHA communiqué said that extension of the stay of visa holders in India would depend on whether there are any objections or adverse remarks from the local police, who have been tasked with verifying the antecedents of foreigners. This applies also to foreign students in the country.
The Foreign Registration Offices have also been told to check that all students have bonafide certificates from the institutions in which they are enrolled. It is found that educational institutions sometimes make this task hard, as they issue certificates for a price, even to students not registered with them. There are 12,000 students registered with the city police as per records, till date. “The number is so high that we cannot personally watch each of these students. Local police are asked to verify bonafide certificates. Attendance rolls and registration details with the university concerned are checked—if there is ground for suspicion, we could ask the student to leave,” said a police officer.
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