Mumbai Court Denies NIA Custody of Human Trafficking Accused

A special court in Mumbai has refused to grant the National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody of two individuals arrested for their alleged involvement in a human trafficking racket. This racket reportedly lured Indians to foreign countries with promises of high-paying jobs.

Permitted for Interrogation

Special Judge A.K. Lahoti, however, permitted the NIA to question the accused, Jerry Phillips Jacob and Godafi Alvarez, while they remain in judicial custody. According to the NIA, several Indians, primarily men aged 20-45, were sent to countries such as Thailand and Cambodia, where they were tortured and subjected to slavery.

Human Trafficking

Jacob and Alvarez were arrested by Mumbai police in March for their alleged role in sending Indians to Thailand, where the victims were held hostage under extremely poor conditions. The two individuals have been booked under Indian Penal Code section 370 (human trafficking) and other charges, and are currently in judicial custody.

The NIA recently took over the investigation, citing the presence of an international human trafficking racket.

On 3^rd June, the court allowed the agency to formally arrest the accused. Following this, the NIA sought their custody, asserting that it was an “international conspiracy” where Indian youths were trafficked to countries like Thailand and Cambodia. There, they were forced to work in fake call centres and engage in credit card frauds.

The NIA informed the court that these victims were tortured and subjected to slavery.

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