London Professor Deported from Delhi Airport: Scholar Francesca Orsini Blacklisted for Visa Violations

A professor emerita from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London was deported from Delhi's IGI Airport due to alleged visa condition violations, according to official sources on Tuesday.

Francesca Orsini, a renowned Hindi scholar, arrived from Hong Kong on Monday but was promptly sent back. Ministry of Home Affairs sources revealed that Orsini has been included on a 'Black List' since March 2025 for not adhering to the requirements of her tourist visa.

"Francesca Orsini entered India on a tourist visa but was found to be violating the visa conditions," explained a ministry source. "It is standard international practice to blacklist individuals who fail to comply with visa regulations."

The academic is widely recognized for her scholarly work, particularly her publication "The Hindi Public Sphere 1920-1940: Language and Literature in the Age of Nationalism."

Historian Ramachandra Guha responded to the deportation by describing Orsini as "a great scholar of Indian literature whose work has richly illuminated our understanding of our own cultural heritage."

Reports indicate that Orsini had previously visited India as recently as October 2024.