Notwithstanding the megawatt smile, flamboyant British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson, was almost deported from Mumbai last morning. The chairman of Virgin Atlantic landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport*, without a valid visa.
Immigration authorities at Mumbai airport found that his visa had expired in February and he was issued a ‘refused to land’ certificate.
Taking it in his stride, Branson then allegedly called the PMO in Delhi and got himself a Temporary Landing Permit (TLP), which is issued in special cases only and generally to airlines’ cabin crew.
“While he was waving flags and dancing on the airport tarmac his officers came to us for immigration clearance.
“It was then we found that his visa had expired in February. Under normal circumstances the person is liable to be deported,” said an immigration official.
Branson was issued a ‘refused to land’ and that is when he called the PMO and subsequently the Bureau of Immigration issued a TLP to him, valid for 72 hours.
Immigration officials were adamant that Branson would not be given a TLP, because he did not satisfy the TLP conditions. But after ‘higher-ups’ intervened, they were forced to do so.
Branson is in Mumbai to promote the inaugural Mumbai-London flight. The flight landed in Mumbai at 10.10 am and the landing was followed by a song and dance session on the airport tarmac.
Confirming that Branson’s visa had expired, DCP SB-II Deven Bharti said, “We have issued him a TLP after verifying that he had a confirmed ticket to go back to London and his request was legitimate.”
Neither Branson nor the airline was available to comment.
By: Airline owner - 5th April 2005 at 08:11
Welcome back Martin, looking forward to the ‘billion’ photos.
By: Airline owner - 5th April 2005 at 08:11
Welcome back Martin, looking forward to the ‘billion’ photos.
By: Himanshu - 4th April 2005 at 19:11
wow lots of people in India. 🙂
I saw Bransons PR pics from Mumbai…. as you would expect, quite flamboyent. 😀
He surely is..
By: Himanshu - 4th April 2005 at 19:11
wow lots of people in India. 🙂
I saw Bransons PR pics from Mumbai…. as you would expect, quite flamboyent. 😀
He surely is..
By: Bmused55 - 4th April 2005 at 18:30
Everyone seems to have seen Martin et al in the news?!
Not a hint of anything up here in the north 🙁
By: Bmused55 - 4th April 2005 at 18:30
Everyone seems to have seen Martin et al in the news?!
Not a hint of anything up here in the north 🙁
By: EAL_KING - 4th April 2005 at 18:25
nice to see you on central news just now martin looks like you and Branson are buddies. where you in premium economy? by the tv ur gf looks nice aswell. looks like you enjoyed it. v.good report on you mate. and is it true they are going to be on your first flight and richard said he’d give you a job?
By: EAL_KING - 4th April 2005 at 18:25
nice to see you on central news just now martin looks like you and Branson are buddies. where you in premium economy? by the tv ur gf looks nice aswell. looks like you enjoyed it. v.good report on you mate. and is it true they are going to be on your first flight and richard said he’d give you a job?
By: KabirT - 4th April 2005 at 01:48
wow lots of people in India. 🙂
I saw Bransons PR pics from Mumbai…. as you would expect, quite flamboyent. 😀
By: KabirT - 4th April 2005 at 01:48
wow lots of people in India. 🙂
I saw Bransons PR pics from Mumbai…. as you would expect, quite flamboyent. 😀
By: wysiwyg - 3rd April 2005 at 21:33
Shame things didn’t work out differently…I was in Delhi while you were in Mumbai.
By: wysiwyg - 3rd April 2005 at 21:33
Shame things didn’t work out differently…I was in Delhi while you were in Mumbai.
By: Bmused55 - 3rd April 2005 at 18:37
I got in and got out fine thanks chaps! To be honest this is the first I’ve heard of Richard’s visa problems, he kept it all very quiet from us extremely well.
Anyway it was a great trip and Richard was on top form. I’ll post a report a bit later once I’ve got all of the billion photos I took sorted out.
welcome back Martin 😀
By: Bmused55 - 3rd April 2005 at 18:37
I got in and got out fine thanks chaps! To be honest this is the first I’ve heard of Richard’s visa problems, he kept it all very quiet from us extremely well.
Anyway it was a great trip and Richard was on top form. I’ll post a report a bit later once I’ve got all of the billion photos I took sorted out.
welcome back Martin 😀
By: LBARULES - 3rd April 2005 at 18:37
Cant wait, glad you had a great time 🙂
By: LBARULES - 3rd April 2005 at 18:37
Cant wait, glad you had a great time 🙂
By: martin_EGTK - 3rd April 2005 at 18:31
I got in and got out fine thanks chaps! To be honest this is the first I’ve heard of Richard’s visa problems, he kept it all very quiet from us extremely well.
Anyway it was a great trip and Richard was on top form. I’ll post a report a bit later once I’ve got all of the billion photos I took sorted out.
By: martin_EGTK - 3rd April 2005 at 18:31
I got in and got out fine thanks chaps! To be honest this is the first I’ve heard of Richard’s visa problems, he kept it all very quiet from us extremely well.
Anyway it was a great trip and Richard was on top form. I’ll post a report a bit later once I’ve got all of the billion photos I took sorted out.
By: LBARULES - 3rd April 2005 at 11:59
I was just wondering about Martin, hope he got in ok! LOL. 😀
By: LBARULES - 3rd April 2005 at 11:59
I was just wondering about Martin, hope he got in ok! LOL. 😀
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April 3, 2005 at 4:27 am