Adnan Sami gets three-month visa extension

Pakistani singer-composer Adnan Sami, whose Indian visa expired last week, has been granted a three-month extension by the Ministry of Home Affairs, a senior police official said today.

"Adnan was granted three months extension by MHA from October 6, the date when his visa has expired," Deputy Police Commissioner (Special Branch) Sanjay Shintre told PTI.

Shintre's office today received a fax from the MHA, informing about the three-month visa extension to the singer, said another officer.

44-year-old Sami, who has made India his second home for the past several years, was issued notice on Tuesday by the Mumbai police, which sought explanation from him for overstaying after his visa expired, and efforts being made by him for renewal of the visa within a week.

His last visa was valid from September 26, 2012 to October 6, 2013.

After the notice, the London-born singer informed the city police in writing that he had already moved an application before the department concerned of the MHA for visa extension.

On the day when Mumbai police sent him the notice, the singer, in a statement released to media, said, "As per standard rules, I had made an application for extension of my visa to the concerned department of the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi on September 14 as they are the only authority to issue all visa extensions. This is a standard procedure that is followed by all foreigners and I have been following it for the past 14 years. Hence this year is no different."

"Until the visa extension is granted by the MHA in New Delhi, I have to be in India as I cannot leave. The length of the process of granting visa extensions is at the direction of the MHA issuing department," he said.

The singer had also met MNS Chitrapat Karmachari Sena leader Amey Khopkar last Saturday seeking their cooperation on the matter.

"Sami met us at our office seeking our cooperation. We told him to leave the country as his visa has expired," Khopkar had said.