Goverdhan Mehta given visa US

New Delhi, Feb 24 (UNI) The United States today issued visa to top Indian scientist Professor Goverdhan Mehta who had earlier been denied the visa.

''The US Embassy is pleased to note that a visa for Professor Goverdhan Mehta was issued today,'' a statement by the Embassy here said.

The Embassy said that processing of Professor Mehta's visa had been suspended pending its review in Washington.

''The review has been concluded,'' the statement said adding that the US Ambassador in New Delhi, David C Mulford, had called Professor Mehta yesterday to notify him and express both his apologies and satisfaction that a visa would be issued immediately.

Prof Mehta, a member of the Prime Minister's Scientific Advisory Committee and a former Director of the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, had applied for the visa at the invitation of a Florida-based university to deliver a lecture.

He was, however, denied the visa after an official in Chennai Consulate, where Prof Mehta had applied for the visa, said he was working in chemical warfare and bio-terrorism.

Prof Mehta, who has done pioneering research in the field of organic chemistry and has been awarded the Padma Shri, was quoted as saying he had the ''most degrading experience'' and that he was given the impression he was suspected of being involved in ''chemical warfare and bioterrorism.'' UNI RB RR KP1810