India backs Saudi's Nitaqat; says removal of illegals will help genuine workers

April 15, 2013

Berlin, Apr 15: Saudi Arabia's Nitaqat drive targeting illegal expatriates has received support from India.

India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the new Saudi labor policy would affect only illegal immigrants and not genuine workers employed in the Kingdom.

Speaking to media persons here, he said: “Genuine workers need not worry. It will impact only those who don't have proper work permit.”

Khurshid said Saudi Arabia needs Indian labor. “Removal of illegal immigrants will open the doors for genuine workers.”

Khurshid said the new law was not just for Indians and it would also affect thousands of illegal immigrants from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. “For genuine workers it will open up opportunities,” he said.

Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi and Minister of State for external affairs E. Ahamed are scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia later this month to discuss the matter with the authorities and find a possible solution.

After meeting Saudi Ambassador to India Saud Mohammed Alsati in New Delhi on Friday, Ravi announced that the Indian government would provide all assistance to its workers in the Kingdom without proper documents to return home.

There are 6.5 million Indians in the Gulf, including 2.45 million in Saudi Arabia. A large number of them are from the southern state of Kerala.

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‘Profit’ trap: Mangaluru trader duped of ₹33.1 lakh in online App scam

News Network

December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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