COIMBATORE: A 40-year-old Trichy man was arrested on Wednesday for travelling to Yemen despite India banning its residents from travelling to the gulf. He was arrested in Coimbatore city under the Passport Act of 1967.
The man, 40-year-old Meyyappan Ganesan reportedly travelled from Trichy to Dubai making use of the travel bubble between both the countries and from there he travelled to Yemen. He flew to Coimbatore on Wednesday early in the morning from Sharjah and planned to travel to Trichy by road.
Meyyappan Ganesan landed in Coimbatore Airport via Air Arabia flight from Sharjah.
When immigration official Ravi checked Meyyappan’s passport to stamp his arrival, he noticed a Yemen travel stamp.
It was found that he had travelled to the country and returned after the lockdown began on March 23, 2020, though travel was banned between the gulf country and India.
“While repatriation flights have gone to and from Yemen, it was only a one way trip. People are not allowed to travel to the country for business and tourism purposes,” an official said.
The man was released on bail on Thursday.
A case under section 12(3) of the passport act was registered, which indicates violation or contravenes the condition of his Indian passport, travel document or the passport act itself