London, Apr 24 A respected Perth academic of Indian origin, who was threatened with deportation, was celebrating after being given a reprieve by the British Home Office.

A judge had originally rejected Swarthick Salins application for leave to stay in Britain after his bank balance fell below the minimum level set by the UK Border Agency.

But immigration officials have approved a fresh application, meaning he can remain in the UK with his wife and three children.

Dr Salins said he was just glad to be able to put the whole ordeal behind him. "I am still kind of coming to my senses and I am just so happy," he said.

"I am so thankful for all of the support that I have had from everyone and I am just chuffed. It is great that the decision was taken to review my situation and I feel that they have done the right thing. It has been a tense few months where we didn't know what was going to happen," he added.

Salins, 37, has lived in Scotland for nine years and studied for a PhD at St Andrews University. The decision to let Swarthick Salins remain in the country came after officials met in Glasgow to discuss his future, Scotsman reported.

First Minister Alex Salmond, who wrote to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, urging her to intervene, backed Salins case.

He also received support from bus tycoon Ann Gloag, whose charity helped support him through university education. (ANI)