Pakistani Singer Adnan Sami granted Indian citizenship from January 1, 2016, the Ministry of Home Affairs said. He was set to become an Indian citizen after he was allowed to stay in the country indefinitely when Pakistan government did not renew his passport, reports a leading English daily.

Sami had come to India in 2001 on a one-year visa and kept renewing it time to time. Sami approached Home Ministry in May 2015 to avoid the deportation when Pakistani authorities refused to renew his passport, reportedly because of old marital dispute. His appeal to seek the exemption from deportation was granted on the humanitarian basis.

According to earlier reports, the Home Ministry is now mulling over granting him "citizenship by naturalisation" in view of his "distinguished service to the cause of art". "The AG has tendered a favourable opinion on his citizenship request. Sami was eligible to be granted citizenship by naturalisation under Section 6 of The Citizenship Act, 1955," senior ministry official told the daily.

Section 6 of the Citizenship Act allows an applicant to be granted a certificate of naturalisation if the central government is satisfied that he/she is qualified for the same under the provisions of the Third Schedule. However, the conditions specified in the Third Schedule may be waived if the central government is of the opinion that the applicant has rendered distinguished service to the cause of science, philosophy, art, literature, world peace or human progress generally.