Visa to Rana issued after "due scrutiny": Chicago Consulate

New Delhi, Nov 18 (PTI) Facing criticism for issuing
multi-entry visas to suspected terrorists Tahawwur Rana and
his wife, the Indian Consulate in Chicago said Wednesday that
the visas were given after "due scrutiny of the available
documents."

Arrested by the FBI in connection with a terror plot
against India, Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian, along with his wife
Samraz Rana Akhthar had been issued multiple entry visas by
the Indian Consulate in Chicago in October 2008.
Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said the
issue of grant of visas was being looked into while the Indian
Consulate in Chicago said the "visas were issued with due
scrutiny of the available documents and following guidelines."
"The Consulate General of India, Chicago issued visas to
Rana and his spouse as per the established procedure for
issuance of visas to persons of Pakistani origin. As per the
procedure, no prior clearance from the Ministry of Home
Affairs was required in such cases," Consul Vishvas Sapkal at
the Indian Consulate at Chicago said in an e-mail response to
PTI.
Both the visas were issued "under the discretion of the
Consul General" with the Indian Home Ministry maintaining that
it was in violation of rules under which its clearance is
required for any person born in Pakistan.
Rana was born in Chichawatni while his wife was born in
Bahawalpur. Both the places are in Pakistan's Punjab province.
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