New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that 10,152 Indian nationals, including undertrials, are currently imprisoned in foreign jails, the government informed Parliament recently.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response to a Lok Sabha query, provided a country-wise breakdown of Indian prisoners across 86 nations. These countries include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Nepal, Pakistan, the US, Sri Lanka, Spain, Russia, Israel, China, Bangladesh, and Argentina.
According to the data, Saudi Arabia houses 2,633 Indian prisoners, while the UAE has 2,518. Additionally, Nepal has 1,317 Indian detainees, while Pakistan and Sri Lanka have 266 and 98, respectively.
Regarding a query on whether a significant number of Indians, particularly from Kerala, were imprisoned in Qatar following the FIFA World Cup, Singh stated that 611 Indians are currently in Qatari jails. However, due to strict privacy laws, Qatari authorities only disclose prisoner details with the individual’s consent, making state-wise data unavailable. The government has not observed any unusual increase in Indian detainees in Qatar post-World Cup, he added.
Singh emphasised that the Indian government prioritises the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad, including those in foreign jails. Indian Missions and Posts actively monitor cases of Indian nationals detained overseas and promptly engage with local authorities to secure consular access, verify their nationality, and ensure their welfare.
To protect the rights of Indian prisoners, embassies extend consular assistance, facilitate legal aid when required, and maintain local panels of lawyers in regions with significant Indian communities. No charges are levied on Indian detainees for these services, he added.
The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), set up in various Indian Missions, provides financial aid for legal assistance, travel documents, and repatriation expenses for eligible persons. The government, through its diplomatic missions, regularly engages with foreign authorities to expedite legal proceedings and seeks amnesty or sentence reductions where possible.
Additionally, India has signed prisoner transfer agreements with several nations, allowing convicted persons to serve their sentences in India, Singh noted.
