Court rejects bail plea of cyber crime trafficker

A session court in a recent order rejected the bail application of a 31-year-old man, booked for alleged involvement in human trafficking, where Indians were sent to Laos under the guise of employment and forced to partake in cyber crimes. Salman Shaikh’s bail plea was rejected, with the court observing that there is prima facie proof that the accused is engaged in trafficking of persons.

Mumbai crime branch’s Cyber police had filed an FIR on the complaint of a man who said that when he was looking for work in October 2023, he came in contact with the accused, Salman Shaikh. He assured the complainant that he will provide him with employment in Thailand. He went to Thailand by air and was taken to Laos from there on a ship, with a few others. They were kept in a 24-storied building with others from Pakistan, Bangladesh, China. Their passports were taken and they were asked to engage in illegal activities (cybercrime), and were not permitted to return to India.

Ransom was demanded for their return, and they were allegedly given death threats too. Shaikh had said that the complainant was not forced, but had voluntarily traveled for employment. He also submitted that he had no criminal antecedents and could be released.

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“The informant (complainant) was forced to do unlawful work. Ransom was demanded from him to return to India. He was threatened with killing. The accused/applicant has committed similar offences with other persons also. He is engaged in trafficking of persons.

Considering the magnitude of the offence, it appears that thorough investigation of the crime is necessary to prevent such offences,” special judge A V Gujarathi said.

Shaikh, a resident of Mira Road, was arrested last month, on allegations that under the guise of providing employment to people in data entry jobs, he had trafficked at least seven persons to Laos. Those taken there were made to work in illegal call centres.