Hyderabad man duped by travel agent safely returns from Saudi Arabia

Hyderabad Man Returns Home After Ordeal in Saudi Arabia

Hyderabad: Mohammed Sameer, a 28-year-old resident of Hyderabad, returned home safely on Wednesday, January 1, after enduring a harrowing experience in Saudi Arabia. Sameer had been imprisoned in the Kingdom after being deceived by a travel agent.

Expressing his gratitude, Sameer thanked External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Jeddah, and Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjed Ullah Khan for their timely intervention. His ordeal came to light when his mother, Shaheda Begum, sought help from Khan on December 22 to bring her son back home.

Sameer, a resident of Nampally, had traveled to Jeddah on August 2 after paying ₹1.50 lakh to a travel agent, Mohammed Akber, for a job as a delivery boy with a promised salary of 1,500 Saudi Riyals. However, upon starting work, he did not receive any salary, leaving him in a dire situation.

His troubles worsened when he attempted to return to India. His sponsor, or Kafeel, demanded ₹2 lakh to release his passport, leaving Sameer stranded. To make ends meet, he began selling caps, prayer mats (janamaz), and other items near the Grand Mosque in Makkah. However, on November 23, 2024, Saudi police arrested him for unauthorized vending and sent him to Safar Jail in Jeddah.

Following his arrest, Amjed Ullah Khan escalated the matter to Dr. S. Jaishankar, prompting swift action by the CGI in Jeddah. The consular officials worked tirelessly to secure Sameer’s release and arrange his journey back to India.

Investigations revealed that Mohammed Akber, the travel agent responsible for Sameer’s ordeal, had sent around 30 young men from Hyderabad to Saudi Arabia under false pretenses. Many of them are reportedly still trapped abroad.

Sameer’s return marks the end of a painful chapter, but it also highlights the plight of others who continue to suffer due to fraudulent recruitment practices.