Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray, this correspondent has learnt, was not granted a United States visa recently.
According to sources, Raj Thackeray applied for a visa to visit the US last month. However, the US consulate in Mumbai did not grant the MNS leader a visa.
This correspondent has learnt that Raj Thackeray did not submit some documents needed to obtain a US visa.
Some
sources claimed the decision may be linked to cases registered against the MNS leader in Maharashtra and elsewhere in the country.
Raj Thackeray, who was to fly with MNS leaders Nitin Sardesai and Rajan Shirodkar to the US around May 12, will instead fly to the United Kingdom, sources said.
US consulate officials neither confirmed nor denied that the visa was not granted to Raj Thackeray.
MNS officials told this correspondent that their leader was not granted a US visa for "technical reasons."