Indian-born businessman BR Shetty, who was under travel ban, reaches UAE ahead of temple opening

INDIAN-BORN businessman BR Shetty, the founder of NMC Group, returned to the UAE on the eve of the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu temple on Wednesday (14) and was given a warm welcome by non-resident Indian expatriates from Karnataka, his home state in India.

After facing a prolonged travel ban in India due to unpaid debts owed to two Indian banks, the 81-year-old Shetty was granted permission to travel to Abu Dhabi by the high court of Karnataka last week. The court suspended the Lookout Circulars (LOCs) issued by public sector banks -- Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank -- as well as the endorsement issued by the Indian Bureau of Immigration (BOI) against Shetty. Conditional permission was granted for his travel to Abu Dhabi for medical treatment.

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Over three years ago, Indian immigration authorities had prevented his departure to Abu Dhabi from Bengaluru airport based on LOCs issued by the banks regarding defaulted loans to companies associated with him. In 2021, the Karnataka high court had dismissed Shetty’s plea against the BOI's action of restraining him from leaving India based on the LOCs issued by the two banks.

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Shetty, formerly the chairman of the temple coordination committee and a key figure in the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Abu Dhabi's first traditional Hindu place of worship, is likely to attend the grand inauguration of the BAPS temple which will also see the presence of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi

Upon their arrival, Shetty and Dr. Chandrakumari Shetty were received and welcomed by the Karnataka Sangha Dubai officials, including president Shashidar Nagarajappa, vice president Daya Kirodian, executive general secretary Manohar Hegde, joint secretary Mallikarjun Gowda and treasurer Nagaraj Rao.