In a shocking case of immigration fraud, four men from Punjab have filed a police complaint after being duped by agents, sent to a blacklisted college in Moscow, and subsequently imprisoned in Russia. The victims, who paid lakhs for a study visa, spent over a week in a Russian jail where they allege they were pressured to join the military and forced to eat beef.
The Deceptive Promise and a Nightmare in Moscow
The ordeal began when the complainants responded to an advertisement on Instagram by Urban Khalsa Immigration and Education Consultants, run by agents Gurpreet Singh and Sandeep Singh in Ludhiana's GTB Nagar. Each paid between Rs 3 to 4 lakh for what was promised as a study visa to Russia and admission to a Russian language course at MIK College in Moscow.
One of the victims, 28-year-old Rawat Bhatti from Ferozepur, a qualified BSc nursing professional, said he was lured by the prospect of better earnings. "Salaries in Punjab are too low. The agent promised that along with the course, we could work and earn up to Rs 1 lakh per month," he stated, showing a fake offer letter from the college. His Canadian visa dreams had been dashed earlier due to IELTS scores.
However, upon landing in Moscow after a flight with several layovers—contrary to the promised direct journey—their dream turned into a trap. On November 6, 2024, Russian police were waiting for them. The authorities informed them that the college was blacklisted and promptly took them into custody.
Allegations of Coercion and Hardship in Russian Jail
The complainants detailed a harrowing experience during their detention. They were lodged in jail for over a week alongside 30-35 other students from Punjab and Haryana. "We were forced to eat beef, made to sleep on cold floors without blankets," Bhatti alleged in the FIR.
Most alarmingly, they claim Russian jail authorities tried to forcibly recruit them into the Russian Army to fight in the Ukraine conflict. "They pressured us to sign documents, but we refused," Bhatti recounted. The group was finally deported back to India on November 14, 2024.
Legal Action and Demands for Stronger Charges
Upon their return, the four men—Rawat Bhatti, Sahil Singh (Patiala), Ram Kataria (Nawanshahr), and Gurjant Singh (Khanna)—mustered the courage to file a formal complaint in November. Based on a preliminary investigation, the Ludhiana police registered an FIR on January 8, 2025, at Jamalpur police station.
The agents have been booked under sections 318(4) for cheating, 61(2) for criminal conspiracy of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and section 24 of the Immigration Act. However, the victims believe the charges are too lenient. "The agents should be booked for attempt to murder and human trafficking," insisted Bhatti, who paid Rs 3.80 lakh. He warned that if the Punjab Police fails to arrest the agents, they will take their fight to Delhi.
Bhatti also raised concerns about other Indians still trapped in Russian jails, duped by similar promises of dream jobs. "Many have become mentally unstable. They are being tortured, and there is no one to help them," he claimed.
Investigating Officer ASI Sahib Singh confirmed the FIR's registration. The case highlights the perils of illegal immigration channels and the desperate measures some take for better opportunities, only to fall prey to unscrupulous agents.
