David Bradbury, a two-time Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker from Australia, was stopped from entering India at Chennai Airport on September 10. Despite having a valid visa, Bradbury was detained for 24 hours and eventually deported, while his son and daughter were allowed to stay. The 73-year-old filmmaker was on a two-week vacation with his children to bid farewell to his late wife, who passed away five months ago, and to visit Varanasi.

Bradbury’s deportation is believed to be linked to his involvement in documenting the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant protest in 2012. As a pioneer of the anti-nuclear movement in Australia, he had stayed with the people of Idinthakarai in Tamil Nadu, highlighting their plight and fight against the state and the plant’s owners. During his detention, Bradbury was allegedly denied access to medication, the Australian embassy, and even the toilet, forcing him to urinate in a paper cup.

The incident has sparked concerns about India’s treatment of foreign nationals, particularly those involved in social and environmental activism. Bradbury’s daughter, Nakeita, expressed sadness and unfairness, stating that her father had been honest about his visa application and had no reason to be troubled. The family has since left for Bangkok, where they had initially come from.