Passports taken, no jobs: Kheda man, friend return from Dubai with embassy’s help

Ahmedabad: A youth from Nadiad and his friend were left stranded in Dubai without his passport after falling victim to a recruitment scam. He and his friend also lost Rs Rs 2.74 lakh taken by the conspirators for the jobs they promised. They returned to India with the help of the Indian Embassy. In his complaint with the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB), Smitrajsinh Zala, 22, stated that in July 2025, he came across an advertisement on social media listing Dubai jobs that paid AED 3,500 to AED 5,500 a month, with free accommodation, food, licence and other benefits. He and his friend contacted the number mentioned in the advertisement and later visited an office in Navrangpura where the accused introduced himself as a company manager. The accused allegedly assured them of a two-year work visa and collected their passports and initial payments. Over the next few weeks, the two transferred Rs 2.74 lakh in instalments after being shown visa documents and air tickets.They travelled to Dubai in Sept 2025, where another person received them at the airport and took away their passports. The complainant alleged that they were forced to sign new agreements and were not provided with accommodation, food or the promised jobs. They were also allegedly told that workers often remain without jobs for months. There was no response from the accused. After the other man allegedly threatened them and refused assistance, the two approached the Indian Embassy in Dubai, which informed them that the company was not registered with the Ministry of External Affairs.After facing hardships and staying with relatives, they returned to India in Nov using emergency travel documents.DCB has registered a case of cheating and breach of trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and is investigating the case.