THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Weeks after their UK visas were revoked and passports held over after the Indian community in Britain raised complaints, Hindu Aikyavedi president Sasikala Teacher and scientist N Gopalakrishnan got their passports back. However, the whole episode of revoking visas and holding passports by the British Consulate in Chennai leaves many questions unanswered as no explanation or clarification has been issued by the authorities.
Speaking to ‘Express’, Sasikala teacher confirmed that she received the passport from the Kochi VFS on Wednesday.However, N Gopalakrishnan, director of the Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage, said he has been informed about his passport, but will collect it on May 18 only. It was a couple of weeks ago that the British Consulate in Chennai revoked the visas issued to Sasikala Teacher and N Gopalakrishnan after a section of the Indian community in the UK reportedly complained against them. The Consulate not only revoked their visas but also withheld their passports without giving any explanation. Though it was promised on April 16 that the passports would be returned soon, they didn’t get any info from the Consulate even after repeated attempts.“Yesterday I got a call from the Kochi VFS to come and collect the passport. Also, yesterday I received an email reply from the Consulate that the passport has been sent from there on April 27 itself. But the VFS officials said they got the passport yesterday only. No explanation was given on the whereabouts of the passports during these period,’’ said Sasikala Teacher.Meanwhile N Gopalakrishnan told ‘Express’ that he also received a similar phone call from the Kochi VFS regarding collecting his passport, and that he would collect it on May 18.