India says, mechanical US apologies over Shahrukh Khan episode will not help. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said in Moscow that the United States should have a serious look at its procedures to ensure there is no repetition.

Recalling an earlier incident in 2009 when Shahrukh was detained at an airport in US, he said the Indian Consulate General in New York had to intervene then to get him out. New Delhi thought the episode was behind it. But again, the same thing has been repeated, when he Shahrukh Khan went to US the day before Friday. He said he is rather surprised that this should repeat in the United States. Krishna said mere apologies by US are not going to improve matters.

As reported, Shahrukh Khan , on his way to address students at Yale University, was detained by immigration officials for nearly two hours after arriving in a private plane at White Plains Airport, about 53 kilometres from Manhattan.

He was given immigration clearance after intervention by the Consulate General of India and the US Customs. Later, US Border Protection authorities expressed profound apology.