A shocking case has emerged from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, where a 38-year-old man named Tikeshwar Sahu, who traveled to Russia in search of a better livelihood, has allegedly been jailed on false charges. According to his family, he is being pressured to join the Russian military forces in the ongoing conflict against Ukraine. This incident closely mirrors a previous case involving a 21-year-old man named Vineet Kumar Dubey from Bilaspur, whose disappearance was reported by his sister Aashi at the Bilaspur Collectorate last month. Vineet had also received a job offer in Russia via Telegram and has been missing since October 7.
Lured to Russia Through Telegram Job Offer
Tikeshwar Prasad Sahu left for Russia in September with the hope of building a secure financial future for his family, intending to eventually bring his wife, two children, and parents to the country. However, he soon fell victim to a deceptive scheme. In both the Bilaspur and Raipur cases, the affected families alleged that the victims were not properly informed about the true nature of the work before departing from India, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by fraudulent agents operating through messaging apps.
Imprisoned and Pressured to Join the Army
According to the relatives of Tikeshwar Prasad Sahu, his last normal conversation with his family took place on September 16. A few days later, they received a handwritten letter from a Russian number in which Sahu stated that he had been falsely implicated in a case related to illegal substances. A subsequent five-minute video call left the family deeply distressed. A family member recounted that he was crying heavily during the call, explaining that he was locked up in a prison and being subjected to intense pressure to enlist in the Russian military.
False Promises of a Delivery Agent Job
Before his departure, Tikeshwar Prasad worked as a store manager in Raipur. He had been promised a job as a delivery agent in Russia, along with assurances that his tourist visa would later be converted into a work visa. Instead, shortly after arriving in Russia, he found himself detained. His family has expressed severe concerns regarding his health, noting that Sahu suffers from a thyroid condition and has been denied regular medication while in detention. Furthermore, the relatives have alleged that he has been physically assaulted.
Legal Efforts and Financial Burden on the Family
Desperate to secure his release, the family has hired a Russian lawyer and spent approximately 1.5 lakh rupees on legal fees. On October 22, the lawyer informed them that Sahu had to be hospitalized due to a sudden spike in his blood pressure. In addition to hiring private legal help, the family has reached out to Indian and Russian embassies, the state police headquarters, and political leaders. They have also lodged formal complaints through the Prime Minister public grievance portal.
Police and Administrative Response
A senior official from the Raipur Police Commissionerate stated that they have received the complaint regarding Sahu. Following standard procedures, the police department will forward the case to the state home ministry, which will then escalate the matter to the Ministry of External Affairs for diplomatic intervention. The family continues to wait anxiously for updates regarding his health condition and eventual repatriation to India.
