Authorities reported that a resident of Haryana paid Om Prakash the hefty amount, expecting illegal passage to the U.S. However, the victim was deported by U.S. authorities and later filed a complaint in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Supreme Court cited the seriousness of the crime while rejecting the bail plea. The case highlights growing concerns over illegal immigration and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by human trafficking networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan dismissed the bail plea, remarking, \u201cPeople like you devalue the Indian passport.\u201d<\/strong> A victim named Raja from Haryana filed an FIR alleging that in May 2024, a travel agent named Surinder promised him legal entry into the US after he paid an advance of \u20b93 lakh.<\/strong> However, Raja was arrested by US authorities and deported to India on February 16, 2025. Meanwhile, his family allegedly paid another \u20b922 lakh in cash to Surinder, bringing the total amount to \u20b925 lakh. Raja’s traumatic experience highlighted the deep-rooted operations of illegal immigration agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Additional Sessions Judge in Panipat dismissed co-accused Om Prakash\u2019s anticipatory bail plea on March 21, as he feared arrest. The Punjab and Haryana High Court also rejected his subsequent plea on April 9, noting his prior involvement in a similar case.<\/strong> The High Court stated, \u201cThe petitioner has criminal antecedents… and the case requires custodial interrogation.\u201d The Supreme Court upheld this view, reiterating the seriousness of the allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u2018dunki route\u2019 refers to the illegal immigration pathway used by agents to smuggle people through countries like Dubai, Central America, and Mexico into the United States, often under inhumane and risky conditions. It has become a notorious method of human trafficking, particularly affecting vulnerable individuals in search of better livelihoods abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By denying bail, the apex court has sent a clear message against such exploitation and the networks that support them. With illegal immigration cases rising, authorities are under pressure to crack down on these operations and protect innocent citizens from being misled and endangered.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Supreme Court has denied anticipatory bail to Om Prakash, a key accused in a \u20b943 lakh human trafficking scam. The case involves an alleged promise of illegal entry into the United States via the notorious ‘dunki route’. Authorities reported that a resident of Haryana paid Om Prakash the hefty amount, expecting illegal passage to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india-news","category-india-news-etw"],"yoast_head":"\n
The court expressed strong disapproval, stating, \u201cGullible poor people, you are taking them for a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nCase Background<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Believing the offer, Raja embarked on a dangerous journey beginning in Dubai, passing through Panama\u2019s forests and Mexico, eventually crossing the US border on February 1, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnticipatory Bail Rejected<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is the \u2018Dunki Route\u2019?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
SC\u2019s Strong Message<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n