A man from Uttarakhand is reportedly in a long-term and difficult situation in Saudi Arabia according to his family and has been kept in a “hostage-like situation” and forced to pay a large financial penalty for a road accident that took place some years ago. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has now appealed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene and bring the man home and return to India.
His name is Indramani Nautiyal, who lives in Gaursada village of Jaunpur block of Tehri Garhwal district. It said that Nautiyal had travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2018 as a job candidate. He had also been employed as a truck driver with Pick Roads and Contracting Company in Riyadh.
The case dates back to 2018, when Nautiyal was reportedly involved in a serious road accident during his employment. Legal proceedings followed in Saudi Arabia, eventually resulting in a one-year prison sentence for Nautiyal.
The fine, according to Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s Office, is approximately Rs 2.29 crore when converted into Indian currency. The company owner has not paid the fine after several years since the accident and after the judicial proceedings.
Nautiyal has been subjected to pressure to pay the amount himself and his family alleges he is being held in “hostage-like” conditions. His wife and daughter have approached various authorities and made repeated efforts to secure his release and return to India.
But the family have so far been unable to get the assistance they believe is necessary to resolve the matter. The prolonged uncertainty has led to a huge mental and financial burden for Nautiyal's family in Uttarakhand.
As a result, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and requested immediate intervention from the Centre. Dhami has taken steps to get Nautiyal released, provide him with legal and financial assistance and return him to India in a safe way.
The Chief Minister’s appeal comes at a time of concern for Indian workers facing legal, employment or financial challenges when working abroad. In accidents and legal proceedings workers can sometimes get caught between local laws and employers and financial issues.
Nautiyal’s case has the Uttarakhand government asking the Ministry of External Affairs and other relevant authorities to investigate the situation and take appropriate steps. They request that the worker receive legal support and that the matter is dealt with in the appropriate diplomatic and legal way.
Dhami also assured that Uttarakhand Government would try its best to assist residents of the state who are living or working abroad. The state government is hopeful that intervention from the Central Government and Ministry of External Affairs will help resolve the matter on humanitarian grounds.
For Nautiyal’s family, the priority is bringing him back home safely after years of uncertainty. His wife and daughter have continued their efforts to seek assistance, while the Uttarakhand Chief Minister has sought to bring forward the matter to the Union government for further intervention.
The allegations of Nautiyal’s treatment and the reasons of his stay in Saudi Arabia are under investigation and action will be taken by relevant authorities. Any legal or diplomatic measures will also be based on what happened in Saudi Arabia and what the parties involved are obliged to do.
The case has only served as a reminder that Indian workers have more difficulty in foreign countries when employment disputes, road accidents and legal proceedings become prolonged. Uttarakhand’s appeal to the Centre now gives hope to Nautiyal’s family and supporters that diplomatic intervention will help to resolve the dispute and enable his safe return to India.
