Originally Posted by
oliver2002
It seems (from the mail quoted above) that LH in BOM checked with the Bundespolizei DVB locally stationed for this purpose in India if the passengers were OK to board. He said no, so they didn't board. The work of DVBs stationed abroad is explained in the link I posted above (google translate should help if needed).
B747-437B mentioned this facility in his post too. The Bundespolizei would have processed the arrival into Schengen, so LH seems to argue if the local DVB says no, his colleagues in Germany will say no too and send them back. I have no clue if this would have been the case... but now I'm really curious to see what an Indian court would say
That the LH staff referred the matter in the first place should raise questions. The local reference for the Federal Police has been wrong there before, primarily when relying upon the representations of "check-in agents who are generally no reliable authority in determining whose genuine visa is to be accepted by the receiving authorities .... and yet .... try to play immigration control anyway -- which serves no one well, except some petty, paranoid worry-wart who wants to play the part of a petty little Napoleon", one who may even seek allies/back-up to that part.
When authorities rely upon unreliable/sub-optimal information conveyance, this kind of inconsistent, passenger-unfriendly outcome becomes part of the picture when it shouldn't be.