Lucknow: Maharajganj police arrested a US national who was attempting to cross into Nepal through an unauthorised foot trail near the Indo-Nepal border in Maharajganj district.The man, who was reportedly not carrying any travel or identity documents, was questioned but could not give a satisfactory response and was giving contradictory statements about his identity, travel history and purpose of visit.According to officials, the foreign national was intercepted near Border Pillar No. 516 along a footpath under the Bhagwanpur police outpost in the Sonauli Kotwali area while allegedly trying to enter Nepal outside the designated immigration route. Security personnel on duty noticed the man moving towards the border and signalled him to stop.Officials said he attempted to flee but was apprehended and taken to the security company’s headquarters for questioning.The man was a native of California, United States. Officials said he was not carrying a passport, visa or any other document establishing his identity or legal status in India.“He claimed he had travelled to nearly 70 countries and had arrived in India after visiting Bali, Indonesia, in May. He told investigators that he had studied at the University of California and had served in the US Navy and Special Forces for six years before leaving military service around two years ago. He also said that both his parents had passed away,” said station officer, Sonauli, Mahendra Mishra.According to police, the man gave varying accounts of his travel within India. He claimed to have arrived in Goa from the United States about two months ago, stayed there for nearly six weeks, and later travelled from Bengaluru to Lucknow by bus on July 8 before proceeding to Gorakhpur. From there, he allegedly hired a taxi to reach the Sonauli border.During questioning, he also claimed that he had come to Nepal to meet a person identified only as “Naz”, whom he described as a Nepalese national he had met in Goa. He said that another acquaintance from Bengaluru was in possession of his passport. However, officials said he was unable to provide complete addresses or verifiable details about either individual.The man also told investigators that he had met an Indian woman from Uttarakhand in Italy three years ago and married her in Oct 2024. He claimed she works as a yoga instructor.Police said the foreign national has repeatedly changed his statements during interrogation, prompting security agencies to verify every aspect of his identity, travel route and claims.The station officer said that he was arrested and sent to jail while the embassy was informed about it.
