Actress accused of visa fraud allowed to travel abroad

Chennai, July 23 (IANS) South Indian film actress Flora Shiny, accused of being involved in a US visa racket, was Wednesday allowed by the Madras High Court to travel abroad.

"Thanks to the Madras High Court's order to return my passport and allowing foreign travel, I can continue my career without worries," Flora told IANS.

The 29-year-old actress also thanked the office-bearers of South Indian Artistes' Association for their intervention into the matter.

Flora alias Asha Saini was arrested in March with false papers for attempting to smuggle another woman out to the US as her make-up artist. Within days, the US consulate here had announced that it had detected visa frauds by artists in the Tamil and Telugu film industry and was imposing a lifetime ban on travel to the US on 200 people.

Flora was later released on bail. The actress has done an item number in superstar Rajnikanth's forthcoming release "Kuselan".

"My part was shot before the ban," Flora clarified.

She started her career in Hindi films in 2004 and later managed to get roles in Telugu movies.

The actress claimed that she had received an invitation through Telugu actor Mohan Babu for an event in the US and that a female assistant was slated to accompany her when she was arrested.