Indian man’s video from Saudi goes viral but police claims ‘he did it for views’

A video featuring an Indian man alleging threats to his life in Saudi Arabia has gained widespread attention online. The individual, reportedly from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, claimed in the video that he is being held against his will in Saudi Arabia. He spoke in Bhojpuri, appealing for assistance from the Indian authorities and requesting viewers to share the video. He expressed that he would die in Saudi Arabia without immediate help. In response, the Indian embassy confirmed that it is searching for the man, although they indicated that the lack of specific location details in the video complicates their efforts. In contrast, Saudi Public Security dismissed his claims as ‘baseless,’ suggesting that the man produced the video to gain social media visibility.

This incident follows the recent abolition of Saudi Arabia’s Kafala system, which had allowed employers to control the visas of foreign workers, a system that critics have likened to modern slavery.

A Delhi-based lawyer, Kalpana Shrivastav, shared the video on social media, urging External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to take urgent action. The man stated in the video that he is being threatened by a person named Kapil, who has possession of his passport and refuses to allow him to leave.

In response, the Indian Embassy stated that it is attempting to locate the individual but requires more information from the lawyer for further action. Saudi Public Security reiterated that the man’s claims lack credibility and were made to boost engagement on social media.