Senior ruling party lawmaker Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik has been refused entry to India.

RaajjeMV understands that Nihan was stopped by Immigration officers at an Indian airport on Tuesday morning and was forced to leave.

It is not yet clear which city he had visited or the reason why he was refused entry. There has been no word from the Indian Embassy and RaajjeMV was unable to contact Nihan.

In a tweet after the incident, South-Galolhu MP Ahmed Mahloof noted that Nihan was sent back to Maldives after the Maldivian government returned the two helicopters gifted by India.

Nihan was a severe critic of India during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration and played a prominent role in booting Indian company GMR from Maldives.

Incumbent President Abdulla Yameen’s foreign policy has put a strain on Maldives’ relationship with India by favoring India’s regional rival, China.