IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA, HYDERABAD THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No.35056 of 2025

04^th DECEMBER, 2025 Between Anirudh Venkat Sai Ponnala … Petitioner AND

1. The Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Hyderabad, and others … Respondents

ORDER:

The petitioner, Anirudh Venkat Sai Ponnala, aged 29 years and a citizen of the United States of America residing temporarily at 302, Krishnaveni Acropolis, Plot Nos. 146 and 147, Kavuri Hills, Hyderabad- 500033, states that he entered India on 31.12.2019 intending a temporary stay, but found himself compelled to remain in India and could not return to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of his father in 2017 had already placed family responsibilities on him at a young age, and his mother, a single parent, required his support. He remained in India throughout this period, including to assist with his sister’s marriage, always relying on his valid visa, and to the best of his knowledge, complying with all requirements of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Bureau of Immigration. When international travel resumed in 2022 and he attempted to leave India, he was stopped at the airpor