India turned back British parliamentarian and lawmaker Lord Alexander Carlile from the Indira Gandhi International Airport soon after a communication snag on Wednesday, July 11.
The MEA instructed the Indian High Commission in London to not issue Carlile a visa. Carlile, who serves as a legal consultant to imprisoned former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia, planned to address a media briefing to highlight what he calls “baseless allegations against Zia.”
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s adviser H.T. Imam had specially flown to Delhi to request that Carlile be denied entry. However, by the time New Delhi contacted London, an e-business visa was granted. Only after the plane left, it was discovered that he was on-board. Eventually, AI 162 was diverted to the cargo area of the Delhi airport, where he was made to de-board.
According to reports, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said “His intended activity in India was incompatible with the purpose of his visit as mentioned in his visa application. It was therefore decided to deny him entry into India upon arrival.”