The Indian Embassy in Moscow has contacted Russian authorities after an Indian woman sought government help, saying her husband was detained by Russian police and was being pressured to join the Russian military. Government sources said the embassy is working with local authorities to secure the release of the Indian man and has also sought consular access.
Woman seeks PM Modi, Yogi Adityanath’s help
The matter came to light after Sneha Gupta, who said she is based in Moscow, posted a video on social media asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to step in.
Indian citizen Chander Gupta, an engineer working for Indian company Uflex in Moscow on a valid work visa, was arrested late at night around 12:30 AM. His wife Sneha Gupta has appealed to the authorities via social media for immediate help.@MEAIndia @mfa_russia @IndEmbMoscow… pic.twitter.com/cUUALoJ0em
— OSINT Spectator (@osintspectator) September 7, 2026
She identified her husband as Chandan Gupta, an engineer from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. According to Sneha, the family is living in Moscow on Chandan’s “highly qualified specialist” visa, which was issued through his Noida-based company.
She said Chandan was taken into custody around 12.30 pm on Sunday and claimed he was still in jail even though, according to her, he had done nothing wrong.
Claim of pressure to join Russian army
In the video, Sneha said her husband was being pressured while in custody to join the Russian army and fight against Ukraine.
She also claimed that a shortage of personnel in the Russian military had resulted in efforts to recruit foreign nationals, including Indians, into the armed forces. She did not provide evidence for this claim.
Sneha also said police had harassed her husband around Moscow Day before his detention. She said the family has a 10-year-old son and is going through a very difficult time. She appealed to the Indian government and Yogi Adityanath to ensure her husband’s safe release.
What government sources said
According to government sources cited by NDTV, Chandan Gupta works for Flex Films Rus LLC, the Russian subsidiary of Indian company Flex Films.
Sources said Chandan and his friend Ashish were detained at around 11.30 pm local time on 5th September from Moscow’s Red Square premises. Russian police, however, said the man was detained with a friend over drinking in public and damaging public property.
The two men are currently being held at the Baumanskaya police station in Moscow, the sources said.
The Indian Embassy has raised the matter with Russian authorities and requested their release. It has also sought consular access to the detained Indians. The sources did not comment on the claim that Chandan was being pressured to join the Russian military.
India-Russia recruitment concerns
The case comes at a time when India has been raising concerns about Indians being taken to Russia with promises of jobs and later being recruited into the Russian military.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs said 227 Indian nationals had been recruited into the Russian armed forces. Of these, 139 have been discharged, while 51 have died.
The ministry said India continues to take up the matter with Russia and is seeking the early discharge and return of the remaining Indian nationals.
