Francesca Orsini, a prominent UK-based Hindi scholar, was denied entry into India and deported on October 20 due to alleged visa violations. Orsini, a professor emerita at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, arrived in New Delhi from Hong Kong after attending an academic conference. Upon her arrival, immigration authorities informed her that she had been blacklisted since March 2025 for misusing her tourist visa for academic activities.

According to officials, Orsini was traveling on a tourist visa, which does not permit research activities. A source from the Ministry of Home Affairs stated, "Francesca Orsini was on a tourist visa but violating visa conditions. This is standard global practice; anyone found violating visa norms can be blacklisted." Despite her claims of holding a valid five-year visa and her intention to meet friends, she was deported back to Hong Kong within hours.

The incident has sparked significant backlash from the academic community and political figures. Historian Ramachandra Guha criticized the deportation, calling it a sign of an "insecure, paranoid, and even stupid" government. He emphasized that Orsini's work has greatly contributed to understanding Indian cultural heritage. Another historian, Mukul Kesavan, remarked on the government's hostility towards scholars, stating, "A government ideologically committed to Hindi has banned Francesca Orsini. You can't make this up."

Orsini's deportation has drawn comparisons to the earlier case of British academic Nitasha Kaul, who was also deported from India under similar circumstances. The Ministry of Home Affairs has not issued an official statement regarding the reasons for Orsini's deportation, and the incident continues to raise concerns about academic freedom in India.