Path on File Server is not accessible from a windows application written in vb

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VB

filepath

I have a Windows application (not deployed, I am debugging it in my machine) written in vb, that is supposed to download a file from a server. But the application is returning a "False" when doing the File.Exists("path on the FileServer").

I can access the path on FileServer from my windows explorer and see the file.
I have given full control to everyone at a parent directory level on file server, but still does not work.
I have removed "read only" check at a parent level directory on file server, does'nt help.
I have written a console application in vb and c# to check if the path on FileServer is accessible. It works here. File.Exists returns a True here.
Looks like the path on fileserver is not getting detected from the windows application alone. Please help!!!

Thanks in advance.