India, Oct. 26 -- The Delhi high court has held that immigration officers are empowered to detain a person for further questioning and to subject them to additional security checks, even if they hold a valid visa and have travelled to the country on multiple occasions.

The order was passed by a bench of Justice Amit Mahajan while hearing a petition filed by an Indian citizen holding a valid German Business Schengen visa, who alleged that he was repeatedly subjected to additional scrutiny at the departure and arrival immigration counters at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport despite possessing valid travel documents.

"Pertinently, the Immigration officer is well within its authority to seek information as is necessary. In fact, ...