The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has responded to an Indian woman’s SOS call from Moscow, who alleged that her husband was detained by Russian police and pressured to join the Russian military. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was a legal matter and that the man had now been released.
The response came after Moscow-based Indian national Sneha Gupta issued an urgent public appeal to the Indian government and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following the arrest of her husband, Chandan Gupta, by Russian authorities.
In an emotional video posted on Instagram, Sneha expressed fears that her husband, an engineer from Kanpur who is living in Russia on a highly qualified worker visa through Indian firm UFlex, could be forcibly recruited into the Russian military amid alleged personnel shortages in the country’s armed forces.
According to NDTV, Chandan Gupta was detained along with a friend for allegedly drinking in public and damaging public property.
However, Sneha alleged that her husband was harassed and taken into custody by Russian police around 12:30 pm during Moscow Day celebrations, despite having committed no wrongdoing. Unable to speak or understand Russian, she said she was deeply distressed by her inability to navigate the local legal system or confirm his whereabouts. Alongside her 10-year-old son, she made an emotional appeal for immediate diplomatic intervention and public assistance.
The Indian Mission in Moscow also responded, saying it had seen a social media post by an Indian national regarding her husband.
“We are in touch with her and the local authorities in the matter. As per law enforcement authorities, it is a legal matter and they are looking into it. The Embassy has also sought consular access,” the mission said on X.
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As of now, Russian officials have not issued an official response regarding Gupta’s current legal status or well-being.