Punjab MLA in trouble over Pak woman’s Jaipur visit

The Union Home Ministry,which also deals with the issue of registration of foreign nationals visiting India,has also begun an inquiry on how Rizvi got a visa that said she was exempted from police reporting,something that is necessary for all foreign nationals,especially those from Pakistan.

MHA sources said the minimum punishment that Rizvi’s offence is blacklisting for a future visa. “We are ascertaining if she visited other places too.”

Rajasthan Police rules require all Pakistanis to report to the Foreigners Registration Office within 24 hours of arrival and seek permit for stay. Sources said Rizvi did not do it.

Sources said Rawalpindi resident Rizvi,who arrived in India as part of a group through Wagah on December 24,had valid visa for Chandigarh,Agra and Delhi. On December 29,she along with Sodhi and others checked into Hotel Jai Mahal Palace of Taj Group.

In a letter to the ACP (CID) Jaipur,General Manager of Taj Samrat Dutta wrote on January 4 that Sodhi had booked three rooms from December 29 to January 2 and he “misled” the hotel management that all persons with him were family members. “We entertained him as VIP guest but on December 31,around 8.30 pm when they were interacting in the lobby one of our staff members overheard them talking about Pakistan. When we asked Sodhi he admitted one of the females was a Pakistani national,” Dutta wrote.

The hotel informed the police. “After receiving the information,we started an inquiry and also passed on the information to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office,Jaipur,” Jaipur (South) SP Josh Mohan said.

Sodhi,while not denying that he was accompanying Rizvi,said his “wife,daughter and other family members” were also part of the group that checked into the hotel. “Our family friend from Pakistan who was on a visit to India also joined us in Jaipur. She submitted her papers and passport to the hotel. Later on,the hotel staff informed her that she did not have a valid visa to visit Jaipur,” Sodhi said. “She had a valid visa to visit Chandigarh,Delhi and Agra and had requested a visa to visit the holy shrine at Ajmer and historical places in Jaipur.” He added that she left Jaipur for New Delhi “immediately” after being informed that she did not have a visa for Jaipur.