Karnataka Men Serving Life in UAE After Alleged Job Scam
Two men from Alipur, Karnataka, are currently serving life imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates following a narcotics conviction that their families claim was the result of a sophisticated job scam.
Jaffer Raza, an electrician, and Jurath Ali, a plumber, were arrested at Sharjah International Airport on May 29, 2025. Their families maintain that the men were completely unaware of the contents of the bags they were carrying, having been lured into the situation by a deceptive recruitment process.
The Recruitment Trap
According to the families, the men were targeted by a travel agent who promised them lucrative employment opportunities in Sharjah. To facilitate the journey, the agent routed them through Bangkok. It is alleged that during this transit, the men were handed specific bags and instructed to deliver them to unidentified individuals upon their arrival at Sharjah International Airport.
Legal Verdict and Appeals
The legal proceedings in the UAE have reached a critical stage:
- March 11, 2026: The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of First Instance sentenced both men to life imprisonment.
- April 28, 2026: The Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court upheld the life sentence verdict.
Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson for Majlis Bachao Tehreek, has brought the case to the attention of India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar. Khan is calling for urgent consular and legal assistance from the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
The appeal urges the Ministry of External Affairs to investigate the recruitment agency involved and the suspicious transit leg in Bangkok. Furthermore, there are requests for government intervention to seek potential clemency, a pardon, or repatriation under UAE law.
Severe Financial Hardship for Families
The imprisonment has left both families in a state of extreme vulnerability, as both men were the primary providers for their households:
- Jaffer Raza: The sole breadwinner for a family that includes a wife, three young children (aged seven, five, and two), and a mother suffering from paralysis.
- Jurath Ali: The primary earner for a household consisting of elderly parents, a wife, and two minor children.
In addition to federal appeals, copies of the plea have been sent to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the Chief Minister’s office, requesting support at the state level. As of now, no official response has been issued by the Ministry of External Affairs or UAE diplomatic missions.