Foreigners in Maharashtra will have to undergo a 'character' check

Mumbai: The government has come up with the idea of assessing the character of foreigners staying in the state and keeping a strict vigil on their activities."We will check the records of foreigners and seek character certificates from their respective countries," home minister RR Patil said in the legislative council on Monday. "If we find that they have a dubious record, we will ask their countries to take them back."

Patil was replying to a calling-attention motion on last month's German Bakery blast in Pune. The issue of foreigners was raised by the Shiv Sena's Neelam Gorhe. "What steps has the government taken to keep a check on foreigners," she asked.
Patil said, "We have already started checking foreigners' visas and taking action against suspect people." He appealed to citizens to alert the police if they spotted anything suspicious.