NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Didar Singh Bains, the largest grower of peaches in the world and one of the richest Indians in the USA, was held up at the international airport here today after he arrived from California on the invitation of the Punjab Government. He had organised anti-India protests in the US after Operation Bluestar and had been refused a visa for many years. But he carried a valid one this time.

According to reports, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal intervened, ringing up Naresh Chandra, the Indian Ambassador in the US who in turn contacted the Home Ministry.

Officials from the Punjab Bhawan in Delhi had gone to the airport to receive him, his wife and son, in the early hours of this morning. The immigration authorities, according to sources, detained the NRI because he was on the watch list of people who were not to be allowed into the country without Government "approval". Surprisingly, this happened despite the granting of a visa. Bains later left the Capital for Punjab.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.