Telangana Man Jailed in UAE Over Unpaid Phone Bill

A Telangana man, Sridhar, was arrested in Sharjah, UAE, while boarding a flight to Hyderabad for vacation. The arrest happened because he owed money to a local telecom company.

Sridhar had taken a SIM card in Dubai but wasn’t using it, assuming there would be no charges. However, immigration authorities informed him that he owed 12,800 Dirhams (around ₹2.95 lakh). This amount was tied to a smartphone purchase along with a post-paid SIM card.

Sridhar claims he didn’t buy the smartphone and blames a middleman who helped him get the SIM card. Unfortunately, he is now in jail.

This incident highlights a common issue faced by some Indian workers in Gulf countries. Many people unknowingly sign documents for post-paid plans bundled with smartphones. These plans, if unpaid, lead to legal troubles, including travel bans and imprisonment.

Similar cases have been reported in Kuwait and other Gulf countries, where local laws allow imprisonment for unpaid debts. Expatriates are advised to carefully review agreements to avoid such situations.

ALSO READ | Hyderabad Sees 24% Rise in Cybercrimes in 2023