Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Home Office under pressure to grant visa to sick Indian national

THE Home Office is under pressure to grant visa to an Indian woman suffering from a rare disease to stay in Britain.

Bhavani Espathi, who is ill with Crohn's Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, last year received a letter stating that her application to remain in Britain had been refused and she was liable to be forcibly removed.


She received the letter while she was in coma following a major surgery.

Now, thousands have signed a petition urging the Home Office to reverse the decision and it is edging close to its 150,000-signature target on Change.org.

The petition was launched by the 31-year-old artist's fiancé, Martin Mangler, a German national based in the UK as a volcanologist.

"The doctors say she needs to stay here, but the Home Office want to deport her to India. They even threatened her with deportation whilst she was unconscious in coma," noted Mangler's petition titled 'Let Bhavani Live'.

"Doctors say her life is at risk if she would be deported. This means the Home Office could be sending her to her death. The Home Office have admitted that she wouldn't get as good care in India, and pointed out that she could get 'palliative care' instead," it said.

A Home Office spokesperson told the Independent that the department had been "made aware of fresh evidence" in Esapathi's case in March 2019 and that it was "currently being reviewed".

Espathi came to the UK as a student in 2010 and she worked in the arts industry before she fell ill. In September last year she underwent a surgery, but it resulted in complications.

She is required to undergo further surgeries.

"She remains on a drip to gain weight so that she can survive the next surgeries. She can't travel at all and the surgeons say that it is of vital importance that her care continued to be coordinated and performed here in the UK," notes the petition by Mangler.

The UK Home Office visa refusal to Espathi, issued in December last year, accepted that the healthcare systems in the UK and in India are "unlikely to be equivalent." But "this does not entitle you to remain here ... Should it be the case that your illness deteriorates or you are unable to access treatment, you have not shown a lack of palliative care or family support available in India.”

More For You

Uganda-high-commission-event

The event also focused on Uganda’s role in cultural diplomacy and sustainable development.

Uganda high commission hosts heritage event in London

THE UGANDA high commission in London hosted an event highlighting Uganda’s cultural heritage and investment opportunities at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Building. The event featured a performance by the Watoto Children’s Choir.

Uganda’s high commissioner to the UK, Nimisha J Madhvani, addressed the gathering, welcoming guests and speaking about the country’s cultural diversity.

Keep ReadingShow less
Maha-kumbh-pilgrims-reuters

Devotees arrive at the river bank to take a holy dip at Sangam during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India on January 28, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

India says 420 million pilgrims have visited Maha Kumbh

INDIA’s government announced on Friday that more than 420 million pilgrims have taken part in ritual bathing at the Maha Kumbh, a Hindu religious festival.

Organisers say the estimate is based on artificial intelligence and surveillance cameras used to track attendance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bird-flu-Getty

There have been 27 confirmed cases of bird flu in England and one in Scotland during the current outbreak. (Representational image: Getty Images)

England bans 'bird gatherings' to contain avian flu spread

THE GOVERNMENT has announced a ban on "bird gatherings" in England as part of efforts to contain the spread of avian influenza.

The ban, which comes into effect from midday on Monday, will apply to fairs, markets, and shows involving various bird species.

Keep ReadingShow less
Matt-Jukes-Getty

Matt Jukes, the UK’s head of counterterrorism, has called for a social media ban for children under 16. (Photo: Getty Images)

Nine-year-old among youngest referred for far-right deradicalisation

A UK charity working to counter far-right radicalisation has seen children as young as nine referred for support.

Exit Hate UK, which helps individuals leave extremist movements, said its youngest-ever referral was nine years old, with the average age of those seeking help being about 15, according to The Times.

Keep ReadingShow less
Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

Wes Streeting addresses the Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28),joined by Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Vikram Doraiswami

Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

WES STREETING spoke of the priority prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government attach to relations with India when he addressed a Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28).

But the secretary of state for health and social care won over the large Indian crowd by paying an unexpected tribute to Rishi Sunak.

Keep ReadingShow less