Detention and then apology a habit: Krishna on SRK episode

Reacting strongly to the detention of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at a New York airport, India on Friday asserted that "mechanical apology" from the United States side in such cases was not "adequate" and that it will take up the issue with the highest authorities in that country.

On his way to address students at Yale University, Shah Rukh was detained by immigration officials for nearly two hours after arriving from India in a private plane at White Plains Airport, which is about 53 kilometre from Manhattan, and was given immigration clearance after intervention by Indian Consulate General.

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Immediately after the intervention by CGI, the United States Customs and Border Protection authorities expressed "profound" apology in a letter to them. However, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has asked Ambassador Nirupama Rao to take up the matter with the highest US authorities.

"Repeated problem for same person followed by clearance on account of Consulate intervention and mechanical apology is not adequate," Ministry of External Affairs sources said.

According to the sources, the letter by the immigration department said that Khan's name was "flagged" in the system and airport people needed approval of "senior" authorities to clear him.

This is not the first time Khan has been stopped at an American airport. In 2009 also, he was stopped at the Newark airport and was released after a two-hour grilling.

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