travel ban – News Analysis India

Shilpa Shetty & Raj Kundra Barred From Travel, Rs 60 Cr Deposit Ordered

News Analysis India — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty Kundra and her husband Raj Kundra have been denied permission to travel abroad by the Bombay High Court. This development stems from an investigation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) which had issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against the couple. Consequently, neither can leave the country without explicit authorization from the investigating agency or the court.

Shilpa Shetty’s legal representative informed the court that the actress had plans to attend a YouTube event in Colombo scheduled from October 25th to October 29th. When questioned about an invitation for the event, the lawyer indicated it would be obtained once travel clearance was granted. However, the court’s response was firm: a deposit of Rs 60 crore related to fraud allegations must be made before any travel plans could be considered. The next hearing for this case is slated for October 14, 2025.

The ongoing legal troubles are linked to allegations of a conspiracy to defraud businessman Deepak Kothari of over Rs 60 crore. Kothari claims that funds purportedly for business expansion between 2015 and 2023 were instead misused for personal expenditures by the couple. Raj Kundra has reportedly suggested that portions of the alleged fraud amount were paid as fees to actresses Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia. Despite extensive questioning by the EOW, Kundra has reportedly remained tight-lipped on key details, prompting further interrogation. Investigators have also reportedly uncovered direct fund transfers from company accounts to those of several actresses, including Shilpa Shetty, Bipasha Basu, and Neha Dhupia, with transactions also linked to Balaji Entertainment.

UN Permits Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Visit India, Amidst Humanitarian Crisis

News Analysis India — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The United Nations Security Council has granted a travel ban exemption to Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, enabling him to travel to India from October 9 to 16. This exemption falls under the purview of Security Council resolution 1988 (2011), which typically imposes travel restrictions on individuals linked to the Taliban. However, the resolution allows for exceptions for official duties or medical needs. This decision comes at a time when Afghanistan is grappling with a worsening humanitarian and social crisis under the Taliban’s governance. The government recently shut down telecom services across the country but later restored them. Concurrently, the nation experienced a total internet blackout, impacting 43 million people, a first under the current regime, which follows recent restrictions on women’s rights and activities.

Former PM Oli Barred from Leaving Nepal Amidst Inquiry into Violent Protests

News Analysis India — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The interim government of Nepal has imposed a travel ban on several prominent figures, including former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. Others restricted from leaving the country include former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, former Home Secretary Gokarnamani Duwadi, the former head of the National Investigation Department, Hutraj Thapa, and former Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Chhabi Rizal. This decision was made by a three-member committee established to investigate the protests that occurred in Nepal on September 8 and 9.

The investigation committee is headed by Gauri Bahadur Karki, a former Supreme Court judge, and includes former police officer Bigyan Ran Sharma and legal expert Bishweshwar Prasad Bhandari. The committee is required to submit its report within three months. The violent protests in Nepal resulted in the deaths of 72 people, including three police officers. K.P. Sharma Oli resigned following the violence.

US Visa Changes: Public Social Media Required for Vetting

News Analysis India — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Applicants for specific US visas are now required to make their social media profiles public. The US Embassy in India announced on June 23rd that those applying for F, M, or J non-immigrant visas must adjust their privacy settings to ‘public.’ This change aims to enhance security checks and verify applicants’ identities and admissibility. This follows the existing requirement since 2019 for applicants to provide social media identifiers. The U.S. government uses all available information to identify those inadmissible, including threats to national security. While this impacts visa applicants globally, India is currently unaffected by the new travel ban, although Indian applicants may still face significant processing delays due to high demand.

Trump Administration Implements New Travel Restrictions Targeting Several Nations

News Analysis India — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A new travel ban initiated by the Trump administration has come into effect, impacting citizens from numerous countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East. The restrictions affect individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The order also impacts those from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who do not hold valid U.S. visas. While existing visas are not revoked, the ban restricts new applications unless specific exemptions apply. The administration has aimed to avoid legal challenges by focusing on visa procedures rather than outright entry bans, citing security concerns and issues with screening systems and cooperation with U.S. deportation protocols. Rights groups and immigration advocates have criticized the move, particularly the inclusion of Afghanistan. Critics argue the ban undermines refugee protection, especially considering Afghanistan’s significant contribution to U.S.-bound refugees in recent years.