New Delhi, Oct. 22 -- Francesca Orsini, noted historian and professor emerita at SOAS, University of London, was reportedly denied entry into India on Monday evening despite having a valid tourist visa, her colleagues and publisher said on Tuesday.

Orsini, a leading scholar of Hindi and Urdu literature, had arrived at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport from China via Hong Kong. She was unavailable for comment as her phone remained switched off. However, she confirmed to a web news portal from the airport that she was denied entry despite holding a valid visa. Orsini had last visited India in October 2024.

The Centre is yet to issue a statement on the development so far.

People familiar with the matter said Francesca Orsini was...