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The Delhi High Court today issued notice in a plea by Manisha Malik, Wife of YouTuber blogger Karl Edward Rice (popularly known as Karl Rock) seeking to quash the blacklisting order which has barred him from entering in India since last October for violating the terms of his visa.

The single Judge bench of Justice Rekha Palli while issuing notices to Centre, Bureau of Immigration Ministry of Home Affairs and Foreigner Regional Registration Office, Delhi listed the matter for next hearing on September 23.

Filed through Advocate Fuzail Ahmed Ayyubi, the plea states that denial of Visa is unreasonable and arbitrary and depriving her from living with her husband is violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. 

New Zealand YouTuber, Karl Rock married Manisha Malik in 2019 and was thereby granted an X-2 visa (meant for spouses and children of an Indian citizen/ Person of Indian Origin/ OCI cardholder) which was valid up to May 2024. One of the visa conditions for him was to exit India every 180 days or to intimate the Foreigner Regional Registration Office concerned. 

In compliance with his visa conditions, Karl left for Dubai last year and when he left through New Delhi International Airport, he was informed that his visa has been cancelled and he has been blacklisted. 

According to ANI, Officials in the Union Home Ministry said his entry to India has been restricted till next year following the violation of the terms and conditions of his visa. "He was found to be taking part in business activities on a tourist visa and also violating other visa conditions," the officials said without specifying.

Furthermore, Rock in a tweet addressed to New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Rock highlighted his "struggle" and a petition that he launched in this regard. To this, some Twitter users posted screenshots of Mr Rock's December 2019 tweets protesting against the the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Many social media users cited this -- taking part in India's political activity -- as an example of how visa rules may have been violated by the YouTuber.

Reportedly, Rock also visited various restricted areas in India, including Nagaland and Jammu & Kashmir, without any requisite permission & monetised his YouTube account. 

According to a Wion report, Ministry of home affairs officials stated that he was a "habitual offender" and in the past, he has been to various restricted areas in India, including Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir without taking permission. He made several videos, including a video, "Do Indians eat beef? guide to eating beef in India", which was seen as a major concern.

 

Case Title: Manisha Malik vs UOI