Journalist deported to NY for misrepresenting facts in visa application: Centre

The Centre told the Delhi High Court on Friday that American journalist Angad Singh has been blacklisted despite being an OCI card holder for misrepresenting facts in his application for obtaining a journalistic visa and violating certain normsJustice Prathiba M Singh granted time to the Centres counsel to obtain instructions and file an affidavit confirming whether any proceedings have commenced against Angad Singh who produces documentaries for Vice News with a focus on Asia for cancellation of the Overseas Citizen of India OCI cardThe high court also asked the Centres counsel to inform whether any show cause notice was issued to the petitionerAlso readAttempt being made to make judiciary part of PMO CongressThe high court was hearing the journalists plea against the central governments refusal to permit his entry into India He was deported from Delhi to New York in August last yearLet the above instructions be placed before the court by way of an affidavit within two weeks the court said and listed the matter for further hearing on February 28The Centre submitted Singh had depicted India in a negative manner in the India Burning documentaryAdvocate Swathi Sukumar appearing for the journalist submitted that under the provisions of the Citizenship Act OCI card holders have all the rights as recognised by the Constitution of India except for certain rights as mentioned under section 7B 2The lawyer also submitted under section 7D of the Act OCI cards cannot be cancelled and no order for cancellation shall be passed unless the cardholder has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heardThe counsel said Angad Singhs OCI card is still valid and that according to the counter affidavit filed by Centre although he has been blacklisted his OCI card has not been cancelled yetAs per the Centre an affidavit has been filed by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office FRRO stating the petitioner is a blacklist subject and was blacklisted at the instance of the Consulate General of India in New YorkThe affidavit claimed the petitioner had misrepresented facts in the application for obtaining a journalistic visa in 2020During the hearing the central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia relied upon the provisions of the Foreigners Act and the Foreigners Order to argue that under section 11 A of the Foreigners Order 1948 no foreigner can produce any picture film or documentary for public exhibition without permission in writing from the Union governmentHe said this provision has been violated by the petitioner resulting in his blacklisting despite being an OCI card holderIn the petition the journalist has challenged the action of refusing him entry into India as illegal and violative of Articles 14 21 and 25 of the ConstitutionHe also challenged the refusal to grant him a Special Permit further to his application made on September 22 2021Singh submitted he holds an OCI card which was issued to him initially in March 2007 and which was renewed in August 2018He said he had applied for permission to shoot a documentary in India in January 2020 for Republic Day celebration and other events and was issued a permit However since he could not visit immediately he applied for a second permission which was granted to him on January 30 2021In 2021 he again applied for a special permit to cover some event and interviews but the application was rejected In respect of his application regarding the rejection he received no responseThereafter he applied for shooting a food show in September 2021 but was not granted permissionThe plea said in August last year he wanted to travel to India on a personal visit as he has roots in the country and also has relatives here However he was not permitted to enter India on arrival and was deportedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever