BUS tycoon Ann Gloag is leading the fight against the "ridiculous" decision to deport an Indian-born academic because his bank account fell £78 short of what immigration rules required.
The furious Stagecoach founder is funding Swarthick Salins's last-minute legal appeal to stay in Scotland with his wife and three young children, who were born here.
She publicly attacked the "perverse and ludicrous" ruling on his case, though the
UK Border Agency insisted its "tough" rules were meant to ensure migrants could support themselves.
Mr Salins, 37, has lived in Scotland for nine years, completing a PhD at St Andrews University with the help of an educational charity set up by Ms Gloag.
But a judge rejected his application to stay, "with some reluctance", because his bank account did not show savings of £800 for three months, as required by UK Border Agency rules.
In September, it dipped to £721.18, meaning that Mr Salins failed to score enough points to win his visa application.
With the academic days away from deportation, Ms Gloag said: "This judgment consigns a hard-working, law-abiding family, who have known no other life, to a dreadful uncertainty.
"I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life. And this is all over £80."
Mr Salins, 37, who lives in Perth, studied with backing from the Balcraig Foundation, a charity set up by the multi-millionaire Ms Gloag that has helped scores of students.
He wrote a thesis on healthcare delivery in rural India while working part-time at Capability Scotland. His wife, Ranjana, works at Asda. Their daughter, Ruhaani, six, and son Rabboni, five, were born in Perth, and their second son, Adonai, three, in Dundee.
Mr Salins, from near Hyderabad, said he applied for a two-year, post-study work visa. He filled out the paperwork himself to save money. "I thought I had a strong open-and-shut case; I never thought they would be digging in so deep," he said. He wanted to work with aid organisations, or in academia.
His initial application failed because of problems with supporting documents on his qualifications and English skills. But the immigration judge finally dismissed the appeal because Mr Salins did not have savings of £800 for three months.
The family received the news in a letter on Friday. Neighbours, fellow academics and local church people have rallied round to show "they support and love us", said Mr Salins.
He instructed a solicitor, Angela McCracken, on Friday. She said: "It couldn't have happened at a worse time. Ann Gloag has been the educational sponsor, so she will be funding the appeal."
An initial appeal will aim to have the decision overturned as a "straightforward absurdity", she said.
The Border Agency said the "tough" system "ensures only people we need can come here".
The row comes amid increasing concern over immigration – but focusing on the authorities' apparent inability to stop foreign criminals coming and going as they please.
