NEW DELHI: Supreme Court docket on Friday requested the Union authorities to answer a habeas corpus petition searching for the secure return of 26 Indian nationals allegedly caught in Russia and compelled to combat within the warfare in opposition to Ukraine.A bench led by chief justice of India Surya Kant, together with justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, issued discover to the Heart and requested it to answer inside per week.
Quoting messages acquired from these stranded, attorneys for the households mentioned, “We’re caught in Russia. We’re combating a warfare in opposition to Ukraine for a international state unwillingly.” Responding to this, Mehta advised the courtroom that the matter could be examined and sought time. The Bench famous this and mentioned it had already requested the federal government earlier to look into the difficulty.The petition, filed by relations, mentioned the 26 Indians had traveled to Russia on legitimate visas, some as vacationers, some as college students, after being promised jobs by recruitment brokers. However after reaching there, their passports had been taken away, their motion restricted, they usually had been threatened and pushed into becoming a member of army models linked to the Russian armed forces.Households mentioned the final messages they acquired, largely between September and October 2025, confirmed that the lads had been in or close to lively battle zones equivalent to Kupyansk, Selydove, Makiivka and Chelyabinsk. That they had expressed worry and mentioned they may not go away the areas the place they had been deployed. In lots of instances, contact has since been misplaced, and households didn’t know their present situation or whereabouts.The petition additionally mentioned that regardless of repeated requests to authorities, together with the ministry of exterior affairs, the Indian embassy in Moscow, the ministry of dwelling affairs, and state governments, households haven’t acquired clear data or efficient assist. Invoking Article 32 of the Structure, the petition argued that the federal government has an obligation to guard Indian residents even exterior the nation, particularly after they can’t defend themselves. It additionally raised considerations about unlawful recruitment networks that concentrate on susceptible folks with false job guarantees and ship them overseas.