US Visa fraud:, Indian Eatery chain owner barred from entering US

by Sanjay Jha | November 10, 2008 at 03:25 am

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The number of Indians aspiring to go and work in USA is spiralling and in absence of valid Visa papers many of them use fraudulent travel documents. Despite the American Embassy strict vigil to curb visa fraud in view of an "alarming" rise in the number of such applicants, there is no reduction in the number of frauds.

There has been incidents where film actress have been arrested for the US visa racket, Now a fresh case has come up where owner of an important restaurant chain have been banned lifelong.

The US consulate in Chennai has imposed a life ban on the owner of well-known south Indian eatery chain Saravana Bhavan's owner, Shivakumar from entering the USA.

Shivakumar is the son of Saravana Bhavan's founder Rajgopal. He was arrested on charges of human trafficking on Sunday as he was trying to procure US Visas for five of his employees, allegedly by using forged documents.

Saravana Bhavan's contract with the US consulate in Chennai has also been cancelled.

Shivakumar has been sent to 15 days of judicial custody. His bail plea comes for the hearing on November 11.

It is the second case involving a member of the Saravana Bhavan family owners. Shivakumar's father, Rajgopal was arrested in 2001on murder charges. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail but has been out on bail since 2004. That case is still on.

Saravana Bhavan has many outlets in Chennai, Delhi and even abroad.