Jaipur: A London-based man who is on a world tour, reportedly to study climate change, was arrested in Pushkar in Rajasthan for carrying a satellite phone, allegedly without proper documents and necessary permission, a senior police official said.
Andrea Pagnacco, aged around 35 years and of Italian origin, was in the town from January 7. His arrest comes before the scheduled visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to nearby Ajmer on January 13.
The official said Pagnacco reached Pushkar on January 7 after visiting several places, including Amritsar, Delhi and Jaipur in his specially designed "bio-van".
"He has no permission for the satellite phone from the Government of India, and did not inform the Customs about the phone when he entered India. He also failed to produce any
other document related to the phone before the police," Additional Superintendent of Police Himmat Abhilash Tank told reporters.
"One mobile phone (connection) of a UK-based company, one laptop were also recovered from him," he said.
Officials of intelligence agencies interrogated the man who was booked under Indian Telegraphic Act and IT Act.
Pagnacco entered the country on December 23 through the Wagah border after travelling through France, Switzerland, Iran and Pakistan before reaching India.
"He says he is on an expedition in his bio-van to study various factors of global climate change, but has no proper certificate or document in support of his claim," the officer
said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 09:07