• Source:JND
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Saudi Arabian police have dismissed as “baseless” the viral claims made by a 25-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district, who alleged in a social media video that he was being held against his will in the Gulf nation. The man, identified as Ankit Bharti alias Indrajit, had accused his employer of confiscating his passport and forcing him into camel herding in a remote desert area.

In a video that quickly spread across social media platforms, Bharti, speaking in Bhojpuri, appealed for help, saying, “Kapil has my passport. I told him I need to go home, but he is threatening to kill me. Please share this video so much that it reaches the Prime Minister.” A camel could be seen behind him as he pleaded to return to his mother in Prayagraj.

The video was first posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Delhi-based lawyer Kalpana Shrivastav, who tagged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging immediate intervention. Within 24 hours, the clip received over 1.4 lakh views, prompting a response from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.

Saudi Police Reject Allegations

The embassy said it was attempting to trace the man but was limited by the lack of verifiable details in the video.

“Embassy has been trying to locate the person. No further action can be taken as the video does not contain any details about the location/province in Saudi Arabia, or contact number or employer details,” the mission said in a post on X.

Officials in Riyadh have also reached out to the Prayagraj District Administration to assist in verifying the man’s identity and contacting his family. The embassy has urged anyone with credible information, including his relatives, to write to them at cw.riyadh@mea.gov.in.

Contradicting Bharti’s claims, the Eastern Province Police of Saudi Arabia said the video was fabricated for social media engagement. “The claim by an expatriate in a video expressing a desire to return to their home country is baseless. It was recorded and published with the intent of increasing viewership on his social media account,” the statement said.

The police added that Bharti had been summoned and questioned. “It was found that there was no dispute between him and his employer. The necessary legal measures were taken against him in coordination with the relevant authorities,” the spokesperson said.

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Family Reacts From Prayagraj

Back home, Bharti’s mother, Ranju Devi, told local reporters that this was her son’s first overseas job. “He was finding it difficult to adjust. He calls me whenever he can. I just want him home safely,” she said tearfully. His wife, Pinky, admitted that while the couple spoke daily, her husband sometimes posted distressing videos “in moments of anger or frustration.”

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Authorities in both countries are yet to confirm Bharti’s exact location. Indian officials have assured that efforts to trace him will continue until his safety is verified. As the investigation unfolds, the incident highlights the growing concern over misleading social media content by migrant workers abroad, and the diplomatic challenges such viral videos can trigger.

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