Mehta, who had been invited by the University of Florida, applied for a J-1 visa given to exchange visitors. The 10-minute interview was, according to him, "bizarre, shameful, undignified and insulting". The US officer commented that Mehta was lying when the latter told him that his expertise was in "organic synthesis" (the jargon for his work). The scientist, who was given the Padmashri in 2001 and is the president of the Indian National Science Academy, was told he was "hiding something" when he answered that the IISC was involved in educational and academic activities. The essence of the interview was that both Mehta and IISC were probably involved in chemical warfare.
The US embassy press spokesperson later clarified it was a case of miscommunication and there were no aspersions cast against the individual or the institute. "It’s standard procedure to question scientists, especially in fields like chemistry, high-end technology and nuclear science, about the nature of their research," he explained. Also, Mehta’s application wasn’t rejected but "kept on hold" till he gave details about his research plans in the US. But Mehta, ironically the first president of the Indo-US governing body on science and technology cooperation, is so angry he’s dropped plans of visiting Yankee country anymore.
